The Christian Girl Chat

It’s no secret that life comes with hard times—regardless of whether you’re a Christian or not. For many people, this becomes a defining point in their faith. I often hear the question: If God is good, why do bad things happen? This was something I personally struggled with before I became a true follower of Christ.

But after deciding to follow Jesus, the answers to that question—yes, there are several—became much clearer. Now, I want to share that understanding with you.

What Are Trials and Tribulations?

When I first heard these terms in a Christian context, I didn’t fully understand them. I thought of a “trial” as something legal, like standing before a judge, and “tribulation” as just another word for hardship. While those interpretations aren’t wrong, there’s more depth when seen through a biblical lens.

Trials and tribulations both refer to the hard times we face in life. And often, we won’t be able to clearly distinguish between them in the moment. But they do carry some differences:

• A trial is a testing of your faith, much like a courtroom trial. In these seasons, God examines whether our faith is truly grounded in Jesus Christ or based on something else. It’s less about literal questions and more about whether we truly trust God in difficult circumstances.
  • Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ~ James 1:2-3
• A tribulation usually involves deeper suffering and is often the result of the world’s brokenness—whether through human sin, persecution, illness, or tragedy. These events are reminders that we live in a fallen world.
  • I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33

Regardless of the form they take, everyone will face seasons of hardship.

So now to the big question…

Why Does a Good God Let Bad Things Happen?

There isn’t just one answer to this question. In fact, the first thing to remember is that God’s ways of working are often beyond our understanding.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ~ Isaiah 55:8-9

That said, here are a few reasons God may allow hardship:

1. Testing Your Faith – Just like students must be tested to show what they’ve learned, God may allow trials to see how we apply what He’s taught us. He wants to see if we trust Him even when things are hard.
   • Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12
2. Growing Closer to God – Sometimes, God allows pain to draw us nearer to Him. Like a child running to a parent after falling and scraping their knee, we run to our Heavenly Father in times of distress. These moments often deepen our relationship with Him because we experience His gentle kindness towards us.
   • The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18
3. Sanctification – Sanctification is the process of killing the fleshly nature to become more like Jesus. Choosing to deny our sin nature is definitely not comfortable. So sometimes God uses suffering to remove idols and sins from our lives which refines our character.
   • Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ~ Romans 5:3-4
4. Preparing You for Something Better – God may take something away—not because it wasn’t good, but because He has something better in store. Though we might not understand in the moment, He is orchestrating a life beyond what we could imagine.
   • And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28
5. Revealing His Glory – This is perhaps the greatest reason of all. God uses darkness to display the light of His glory. Think of Jesus walking on the stormy sea—if the sea had been calm, the miracle wouldn’t have shone so brightly. Without dark times, we’d miss seeing the beauty of who God truly is.
   • But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

Again, these are just a few reasons God allows bad things to happen in this world. And though we don’t enjoy going through trials and tribulations, I have to ask myself if perhaps I should be thanking God for them.

Thank You for Trials and Tribulations

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. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7

These verses tell us that hard times are more precious than gold and to be glad for them. Why would that be?

Think of a rainbow, beautiful spring flowers, or even a newborn baby. These are all things that should bring feelings of happiness, peace, and awe. But none of them could have occurred without initial difficulty. You can’t see a rainbow without first experiencing a storm. You can’t smell the fragrance of May flowers unless you go through April rain showers. You can’t hold a miracle of life until you go through the pain of childbirth. Out of the greatest storms come the greatest blessings. So be glad and thankful for the worst hardships of life because it is through those experiences that God produces some of the most beautiful blessings. So thank you, Lord, for the suffering.

But even if I don’t see a big blessing after hardship, perhaps the reason for it was simply to grow my trust and reliance on Jesus Christ. And this brings me to the absolute blessing nothing else can compare to.. the Gospel.

The Ultimate Blessing: The Gospel

Earlier, I mentioned that suffering exists because of humanity’s sin nature. That sin—whether it’s a white lie, cheating, or harboring hate—separates us from God. Sin is why we see pain, war, and death in the world.

But here’s the good news:

Jesus Christ came to Earth, lived a sinless life, and chose to take our punishment on Himself. He died in our place and rose again three days later, defeating sin and death once and for all. Through faith in Him, we are offered eternal life and reconciliation with God.

If you’ve never made that decision to follow Christ, now is the time. It’s the greatest gift you’ll ever receive.

A Sample Prayer for Salvation

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for coming to Earth and taking my place in the death I deserved because of my sin. I believe that You rose from the dead and defeated sin and shame. I now place my trust in You as my Savior and my God, looking forward to the day I will live with You in eternity. Until then, help me grow in my relationship with You and know You more deeply.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! This doesn’t mean life will be free of hardship—but it does mean you’ll never walk through it alone.