Purpose of Evil, Trials, Tribulation, Testing, Temptations & Suffering

I have intentionally included numerous biblical scriptures and their sources (i.e. title of the Book in the Bible, its Chapter and Verse(s) from both the Old and New Testaments) to support the above-noted title of this article.

You will note that in many instances, it is God Himself who deliberately predestines or ordains or ordained a given situation to bring forth good out of what may appear to us, with our natural senses and understanding, to be evil, a teaching or thought which goes almost entirely against much of what you and I learned in mainstream church systems.

He brings to bear or preordains these trials and suffering for the express purpose of His original proclamation in the Book of Genesis, which is to create us into His image and into His likeness.

In my humble opinion, these scriptures provide proof positive for the purposes and the reasons behind your and my trials, tests, temptations and suffering. For some of us, these are more intense and occur more often, while for others it is moderate or not as severe. For others, it appears that they go through their entire life almost completely pain free, and with little or any suffering or trials.

 Either way, I believe these scriptures are a source of inspiration, knowledge and encouragement whenever you and I face diverse trials and sufferings. And we all do to some degree...no exceptions.

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. You thought evil against me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis, Chapter 45, verses 5, 8 and verse 50:20)

Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head. Let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today. (2 Samuel, Chapter 16, verse 9 through 12)

Fully set in array under the hand of God leaves us as untouchable to all other forces. My Father is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (Gospel of John, Chapter 10, verse 29)

For ye are the temple [not the physical, man-made building we enter every Sunday] of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them [like in the Garden of Eden]; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (2 Corinthians, Chapter 6, verse 16)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside [frustrate] the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! (Galatians, Chapter 2, verses 20 and 21)

May your spiritual experience become richer as we see more and more fully God’s great secret, Christ Himself; For it is in Him, and in Him alone, that men will find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians, Chapter 2, verses 2 and 3)

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter, Chapter 1, verses 4 through 7)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians, Chapter 5, verses 22 and 23)

In the preceding scripture, if one were to count, there are nine (9) fruit mentioned. For the more earnest and solemn Bible student, there are far more fruit, Godly attributes or descriptions of our Heavenly Father's nature that can be found throughout the Bible.

Consider the following list of additional attributes which provide us with a greater appreciation for His Nature or Being: omnipotence; beauty; blessing; bountiful; caring; counsel; compassion; doting; excellence; eternal; forgiveness; grace; humility; holiness; jealousy; judgment; justice; omniscience; loyalty; mercy; nobility; omnipresence; perseverance; purity; serenity; righteousness; sacrifice; thoughtfulness; truth; understanding; virtue; warrior-like; wisdom; yieldedness (as in when our Lord submitted to His Father while on earth); and zeal.

As a great part of His nature, let us also not forget His oaths and promises, which are irrefutable, unchanging and cannot be annulled. These are the crowning glory of His attribute or nature of faithfulness. This truth is expressed in the following scripture:

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie [i.e. His Oath & His Promise], we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.(Hebrews, Chapter 6, verses 16 through 19)

For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all the people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers. (Deuteronomy, Chapter 7, verses 6 through 8)

The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. (Isaiah, Chapter 14, verse 24)

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish. When I saw the prosperity of the wicked…Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
(Psalm 73, verses 2 and 3; verses 12 through 14; and verses 16 and 17)