Rethinking Religion, Part 1: Trials, Tests and Temptations - Pastor Nate

“If God loves us, why doesn’t he remove all the trials and tests and temptations that we face?” That question demonstrates the religious assumption that those things are bad. They aren’t. In the hands of a loving God, they are tools by which he refines our faith. He uses tests to compel us to be less self-reliant, and instead trust in his strength. He uses trials to teach us that this broken world is not our true home. God even takes Satan’s temptations and uses them for our good. Trials, tests, and temptations are not exceptions to God’s love. That’s a false assumption! These are examples of God’s love. We just keep coming back to the proof of God’s love, that God allowed his beloved Son Jesus to face trials and temptations, so that he might be our perfect savior and substitute.