Is There Purpose in Suffering?

July 21, 2026

Why do bad things happen to Christians? Couldn’t God step in and spare His children from all suffering?  Is there a reason behind our suffering?

Yes, God could shield us from every trial, but He doesn’t. As we go about our lives we fall into the trials that are common to all people. But as the people of God, we need to realize that there is a wonderful, divine purpose behind those trials.  What is that purpose?

In the opening sentences of James, we read: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4 NASB95).

Notice what God is trying to do in us. He is trying to bring us to perfection and completion— that we would be spiritually mature and full-grown. How can we ever reach such a state? One might say it is through study, prayer, self-control and other spiritual disciplines. These are certainly key ingredients of spiritual growth, but there is another necessary ingredient. Trials.

Do you see the connection? Various trials test our faith. Testing of faith produces endurance (if we pass the test). Endurance then leads to spiritual maturity and fullness. But it starts with trials! The trials we go through are working something wonderful in us! This is why James can tell us to rejoice when we face them.

And if this is true, then we can look at adversity in a way that no one else in the world can. We face the same types of problems in life as everyone else, but as followers of Christ, we can see trials as a reason to rejoice rather than despair. We can see opportunity rather than hopelessness. Yes, we will struggle. Yes, we will feel sadness and disappointment at times. But in the end, we can trust that our loving Father is working something beautiful within us.

The trials of life will certainly come. May God help us to face them joyfully, knowing His divine purpose. 

—Scott Colvin  

Leave a Comment » | endurance, James 1:2-4, problem of suffering, purpose of trials, Spiritual Growth, suffering, test, trials | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin

The Cure for Spiritual Stagnation

July 17, 2026

Have you ever felt spiritually stagnant? Like you weren’t growing in your faith as you should be? Like you’re just going through the motions?

In 2 Peter chapter 1 we see a list of qualities that should be present in the lives of Christians. These qualities build upon one another and might be thought of as stair steps of spiritual growth. The apostle Peter writes, “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7 NASB95).If we will make every effort to supply these qualities in our faith, we will grow spiritually. Think of the beautiful places God will take us if we will supply these things!

These qualities should be present in our lives and increasing. As Peter continues, “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8). Can you look back on your life over the past few years and say that you have been growing in knowledge?  In self-control?  Have you been growing in love?

And if the honest answer to that question is “No,” we must ask ourselves why we are not growing as we ought. What is the root cause? One might say it is because of a lack of diligence. That is a good and honest answer. But then the question becomes, why do I lack diligence? Why am I not putting forth the effort to supply these things?

The answer is in Peter’s next statement. “For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins” (2 Peter 1:9). If we lack these qualities, it means we have forgotten something. We have forgotten the cross. We have forgotten what our Lord Jesus has done for us. We have forgotten how God in the flesh became the man of sorrows. How He was mocked and spat upon and beaten. How He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross. Why? So that we could be cleansed from sin, so that we could be made right in the eyes of God, and so that we would no longer be slaves of sin. If we become nearsighted and forget these precious truths, our diligence will wane and our growth will stall. But if we remember what Christ has done, our love for Him will propel us into a greater diligence.

May God help us to not lose sight of our purification from our former sins. And may God help us to ever be growing into His divine nature.

Leave a Comment » | 2 Peter 1:5-9, spiritual dryness, Spiritual Growth, spiritual life, spiritual stagnation | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin

The Road to Spiritual Maturity

March 29, 2022

One of the great tragedies in life is for one to claim a longstanding relationship with Christ and yet be very immature spiritually.  This is something that should not be.  It is comparable to a baby who fails to thrive.  When a baby doesn’t grow physically, we know that something is very wrong.  In the same way, if we examine our own lives and see that we have not grown spiritually, we should be very alarmed.  Something is very wrong.  Sometimes Christians go through life with the same fleshly attitudes and behaviors that we had before we came into Jesus.  Very little changes.  Little to no fruit is produced.  Christ seems to have little impact.  On the other hand, we all know brothers and sisters in the Lord who have changed completely since meeting Jesus.  They grow and bear fruit and are a blessing to those around them.  The question is, why do some go on to maturity and some do not?

If we are going to mature in the Lord, we must be feeding on the word of God.  Just as a baby will not grow without milk, so a Christian will not grow without feeding upon the word.  Peter writes, “…like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…” (1 Peter 2:2, NASB) If you and I are not feeding on the word, there will be no growth.

If we are going to mature in the Lord, we must be practicing righteousness.  There will be no growth if we only talk about the things of the Lord but do not practice them.  As we see in Hebrews chapter five, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14, NASB) Practice brings the ability to discern good and evil, and this is a mark of spiritual maturity.

Finally, if we are going to mature in the Lord, we must take opportunities to grow through trials.  Those who are mature have allowed the Lord to mold and shape them in the fires of suffering.  As James says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NASB) Trials, if endured with a God-centered, joyful attitude, will lead us to be perfect (mature), and complete. 

Let us examine our own lives and, with God’s help, press on to greater spiritual maturity.

Leave a Comment » | 1 Peter 2:2, Christian maturity, Hebrews 5:14, James 1:2-4, maturing, Spiritual Growth | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin

The Prosperous Soul

December 31, 2021

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 2, NASB) This was John’s prayer for Gaius, his faithful brother in the Lord, and this is my prayer for each of you in the new year—that you will prosper in all respects.

I pray that God will grant each of you success in school and in your careers.  I pray that you will find contentment in life, and satisfaction in your work.  I hope that business will be good, and that you will use whatever financial blessings God may choose to bless you with for His kingdom and His glory. 

I pray that God will bless you with good health.  What trying times we have been through for nearly two years now.  Times like these really make us appreciate good health, don’t they?  May God bless each of you with good health, and may we use the blessing of good health for the sake of Christ.  Let us use whatever physical strength and vitality God may grant us to be busy about His work and to serve one another.

Most of all, I pray that your soul will prosper in the new year.  This is of utmost importance.  What good is it to have physical blessings and good health if we neglect the condition of our soul?  As Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26a, NASB) A prosperous soul is a blessing of the highest order.  When our soul prospers, we will find unspeakable joy, peace that surpasses comprehension, and renewed hope.  When our soul prospers, we will find satisfaction, and contentment.  When our soul prospers, we will truly be living the good life. But when we neglect the condition of our soul, we will find trouble, sorrow, and confusion in life.  I plead with you; do the things which will cause your soul to prosper in the year ahead.

Let’s make 2022 a year in which each of us grow spiritually like never before.  I pray it will be a year in which each of us are granted deeper spiritual understanding.  I pray it will be a year in which each of us will find the deepest joy and satisfaction in a closer walk with God.  May your soul prosper in the new year!

— Scott Colvin

Leave a Comment » | 3 John 2, Christian living, Matthew 16:26, New Year's Day | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin