The Bible is abundantly clear that Christians will face trials of various kinds.  Jesus tells his disciples to expect persecution (Matthew 10).  Paul writes about learning to rejoice in suffering because we are sharing in and filling up the suffering of Jesus (Colossians 1).  James tells us to count it all joy when we face trials (James 1).  Peter tells us not to be surprised by suffering (1 Peter 4).  One of the descriptions of the New Heaven and New Earth is that these former things, death, sickness, sorrow, etc., will pass away (Revelation 21).  Anyone that tells you the Christian life is a life of ease and continued earthly blessing that is void of suffering is a charlatan.  We simply cannot present the Christians life as one of earthly bliss and blessing while remaining faithful to Scripture.

The reality of suffering for the Christian begs the question, “Why do trials come?”  To be clear this is not the popular and accusatory why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people rephrasing of the problem of evil.  The question we are concerned with is this, “Do trials serve a particular role in the life of Christians?”

Answers to the questions surrounding suffering in the Christian life are far from consistent.  Some, denying the sovereignty of God attempt to the disengage God from trials and suffering by setting up various “wills” of God or by blatantly limiting God’s activity in the world thereby making our suffering vain.  Others recognize that God can have purpose in suffering but limit that purpose to this life saying we suffer in order to be prepared for a better life on earth.  Scripture however presents a different picture of the reason for suffering.

Scripture repeatedly holds up the Christians preparation for heaven as the goal of suffering and trials.  Suffering may function as discipline.  Trials may serve to drive us to rest in God.  Through trials and suffering, we may fill up the sufferings of Christ.  However, the underlying theme is being prepared for glory.  Peter writes,

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1.6-9, ESV).

Peter’s broad point is that we rejoice in the hope, inheritance, and future that are secured by Christ and in which God keeps us by his power through faith.  We rejoice in this even when we face the trials of life because we are being prepared for glory where we will give worship that is utterly unhindered by sin to Jesus Christ.  When we suffer as Christians, one reason to rejoice is we are being prepared through our suffering to meet Christ.