015 - Adversity for Endurance: The Sufficiency of Christ [B]

Why does God allow suffering and adversity in the lives of believers? In 2 Corinthians 1:5-6, Paul teaches that suffering is not without purpose. God uses adversity to train us, develop endurance, and bring us to spiritual maturity. Just as the Lord Jesus Christ learned obedience through the things He suffered, we must learn to trust God and apply His Word in the pressures and difficulties of life. As members of the body of Christ, our suffering also serves a larger purpose. Through the comfort and encouragement we receive from the Father through Christ, God equips us to strengthen and encourage other believers as they face their own trials.