Studies on human behavior have taught us that much of our ability to make right choices and establish proper feelings about value as a person relate to what we believe about ourselves and the effect those beliefs have on our self-worth.
Yet, we often seem so intent on finding quick solutions to circumstances and problems that we overlook God's purpose in trials, which is to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.
In the process of spiritual maturity it is helpful for us as Christians to adjust our perspective to see that:
• Painful experiences can be effective in bringing positive change to our lives.
• The sins in our lives will be used by God to show us new things about His love, forgiveness, and grace.
• Our loving Father is far more interested in doing something "in" us than He is in doing something "through" us.
Pain, brokenness, testing, trials, suffering—they are all God's ways to use the world, the flesh, and the devil to stir His stubborn children into understanding that there is much more to life and purpose than merely this present age.