Transformed by Trouble

I don’t usually welcome problems. I mean who does right? Most of the time I view them as interruptions, setbacks, or even punishments. But lately, as I’ve been reading The Purpose Driven Life, I’ve been confronted with truths that make me quicken: What if my troubles are not accidents at all? What if they are part of a larger design- a way God is shaping me into the likeness of His Son?

The Reality of Trouble

Jesus was clear when He said that we would face trouble in this world. He didn’t sugarcoat the journey of faith with the promise of ease or comfort. Instead, He reminded us that problems are not unusual; they are normal to everyone.

Still, I often act surprised when difficulties hit my doorstep. My first instinct is to think something has gone wrong, that life has slipped out of God’s control, or that I am to blame for the issue. The truth is quite the opposite, my struggles are not proof of God’s absence- they may, in fact, be evidence of His work.

Worship in the Dark

When I look at the people in Scripture, I see the same pattern. Joseph spent years in prison, Daniel faced lions, Jeremiah sank into a muddy pit, Paul was shipwrecked more than once, Sharach, Meshach, and Abednego were tossed into fire.

God could have prevented everyone in those moments, but He didn’t. Instead, He used them. Each of those people came out of their troubles with a deeper faith, not in spite of their suffering but because of it.

That comforts me. It means that when life feels unfair or unbearably difficult, I am not outside of God’s reach. In fact, I may be closer to Him than I can humanly realize.

The Bigger Picture

One of the passages that people often cling to in hard times is Romans 8:28: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” For years, I misunderstood these words. I often thought that they meant everything would eventually make sense, or that it would all turn out happily in the end.

But reading more closely, I see that the “good” Paul speaks of isn’t comfort, but character. God’s purpose is to shape me into the image of His Son. It doesn’t mean every situation is good- many things in life are deeply painful but it does mean God can weave even those painful threads into a larger story.

Shaped by Hardship

I don’t like to admit it, but my character has been formed more by difficulties than by ease. Every hardship has been like a chisel against my soul, cutting away pride, selfishness, or illusions of control. It hurts… but it’s necessary.

There is a quote in the chapter that says: “ ‘ A silversmith was once asked, how do you know when the silver is pure?” to which the silversmith replied “When I can see my reflection in it.’ “ That’s what God is doing through our trials- refining us until the reflection of Christ is clearer.

Where I’ve Grown

When I ask myself what struggles have changed me most, two things come to me quickly: finances and relationships

Money has always… well more often than not been unstable ground for me. There have been seasons of plenty, but just as quickly, seasons of scarcity that left me anxious and unsure. The ups and downs were not gentle waves but sharp cliffs- one moment secure, the next gasping for air. Yet, those were the times I learned to pray for daily bread and to trust that provision comes from God, not from numbers on a slip of cotton paper.

Relationships have been another testing ground. Many of my friendships stayed at the surface, never quite reaching the depth I longed for. Even with my closest friend, there were long stretches of absence. Looking back, I wonder if some of that came from not knowing how to rood myself in God’s love first. Perhaps God has been using the ache of human inconsistency to teach me about His unwavering presence.

Learning to Endure

The more I think about it, the more I realize troubles do not automatically produce growth. They can make me bitter just as easily as they can make me better. The difference lies in how I respond. Do I keep my eyes fixed on my pain, or do I lift them to God’s purpose?

When I remember that this life is temporary and eternity is ahead, my perspective shifts. My circumstance may not change, but my heart can. Suffering doesn’t last forever, character does.

A Different Prayer

In the past, most of my prayers in hardship sounded like this: “Lord, take it away. Make it stop. Give me relief.” Those prayers still come up every now and again but I am learning another way to pray: “Lord, use this. Shape me through this. Make me more like You.”

That doesn’t come naturally at all, but I think it’s part of the growing process. Spiritual maturity is seeing God’s hand even in the random, confusing, and painful parts of life, it’s believing that even here, even now, He’s at work.

Closing

The thought I carry away from this chapter is simple: there is a purpose behind every problem. My life may feel chaotic, but nothing is wasted in God’s hands.

So, instead of asking “why me?” I am asking “What are You teaching me, Lord?” Instead of praying for comfort, I want to pray for transformation and when the day comes that the trial finally lifts, I hope I’ll be able to look back and say, “It hurt. But I see it now- I was being shaped, and through the trouble God was near.”