The Purpose Behind the Pain
Devotional
Why does following Jesus sometimes feel so difficult? Why do trials and challenges seem to intensify rather than disappear when we commit our lives to Christ? The answer lies in understanding God's purpose behind our struggles. Every test, every trial, every difficult season serves one primary purpose: helping us die to ourselves. It's in the pressure moments that we discover what we're really trusting in. When finances get tight, do we panic or pray? When relationships strain, do we manipulate or surrender? When health fails, do we despair or depend on God? These aren't random hardships - they're divine appointments designed to reveal where we're still holding on to control. The reason trials feel so hard is because dying to self is hard. Our flesh fights against surrender. Our pride resists humility. Our fear opposes faith. But God uses these very struggles to set us free from the things that bind us. He's not trying to make our lives miserable; He's trying to make us like Jesus. And that transformation requires the refining fire of difficulty. The goal isn't to avoid the trials but to let them do their work in us.
Bible Verse
'Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.' - Romans 6:3-4
Reflection Question
Looking at your current challenges, how might God be using them to help you die to self and grow in dependence on Him?
Quote
Every test and trial we're going through in life has to do with one main thing. Dying to self. You know why the tests and trials are so hard and difficult? Mainly because we have a hard time dying to self.
Prayer
Father, help me see my trials through Your eyes. Instead of just asking You to remove them, help me ask what You want to teach me through them. Give me the grace to surrender the areas of my life that these challenges are exposing. Use every difficulty to make me more like Jesus. Amen.
Why does following Jesus sometimes feel so difficult? Why do trials and challenges seem to intensify rather than disappear when we commit our lives to Christ? The answer lies in understanding God's purpose behind our struggles. Every test, every trial, every difficult season serves one primary purpose: helping us die to ourselves. It's in the pressure moments that we discover what we're really trusting in. When finances get tight, do we panic or pray? When relationships strain, do we manipulate or surrender? When health fails, do we despair or depend on God? These aren't random hardships - they're divine appointments designed to reveal where we're still holding on to control. The reason trials feel so hard is because dying to self is hard. Our flesh fights against surrender. Our pride resists humility. Our fear opposes faith. But God uses these very struggles to set us free from the things that bind us. He's not trying to make our lives miserable; He's trying to make us like Jesus. And that transformation requires the refining fire of difficulty. The goal isn't to avoid the trials but to let them do their work in us.
Bible Verse
'Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.' - Romans 6:3-4
Reflection Question
Looking at your current challenges, how might God be using them to help you die to self and grow in dependence on Him?
Quote
Every test and trial we're going through in life has to do with one main thing. Dying to self. You know why the tests and trials are so hard and difficult? Mainly because we have a hard time dying to self.
Prayer
Father, help me see my trials through Your eyes. Instead of just asking You to remove them, help me ask what You want to teach me through them. Give me the grace to surrender the areas of my life that these challenges are exposing. Use every difficulty to make me more like Jesus. Amen.
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