According to Christian based theology, why do we have trials and tribulations and how do they help us become more Christlike

Trials and Tribulations in a Christian Life Student’s Name Institution Course # and Name Professor’s Name Submission Date Introduction Every human being yearns for a peaceful and enjoyable life under the sun for all the days that one is born till one exits this world. Suffering is associated with a lack of ability to make life easier or a lack of wealth to access tangible happiness. However, Christians have a contrary view of suffering in this world. Theological teachings refer to worldly suffering as trials and tribulations to strengthen Christians' faith and belief in their destined call. Jesus Christ was born in a sinful world, and he faced all the temptations that may predispose any firm believer to sin. He had the image of an ordinary human being and lived the life of a servant. The challenging experiences that Jesus underwent in his life form a background and a point of reference for living a Christlike life. This perspective is rooted in the biblical understanding that God uses difficulties not to punish but to refine, strengthen, and mold His followers into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. A devoted Christian must acknowledge that Christian life is marked by transformation and sanctification. This paper discusses why Christians have trials and tribulations and how they help them become more Christlike, deriving insights from Christian-based theology. Reasons for Trials and Tribulations Trials and tribulations are meant to test and strengthen the faith of Christians. James 1: 2-4 encourages Christians to find pure joy when they face many types of trials because when they overcome that phase of their Christian life, they will have developed a higher level of perseverance. In doing so, Christians become complete and mature to face any challenge that comes their way. Trials serve as a testing ground for faith. When believers encounter difficulties, their reliance on God and trust in His promises are tested (Sinaga et al., 2023). For example, a body muscle grows in breadth and width when exposed to resistance training in the gym or hard work in farms and active workplaces. This symbolizes a Christian life because spiritual maturity is only achieved by persevering through trials and tribulations. The Christian life is purified and sanctified through tribulations and trials. These elements act as a refining fire, purifying believers by exposing and removing impurities and sinful tendencies, as discussed in 1 Peter 4:13-29. For example, a staunch believer who has been serving God for many years may not necessarily have the character of a committed follower because they have not had a life-changing encounter. If the believer has never had a significant illness and then gets hospitalized for more than a month, the end of this trial will yield a different character. In church summons, this believer will be aware of the gift of life and how priceless it is to have a healthy body. Having been given another chance to praise and worship God, the believer will be committed to living a pure life (Noya & Putrawan, 2022). This process helps to eradicate selfishness, pride, and other ungodly traits, replacing them with humility, patience, and other Christlike virtues. Trials and tribulations remind Christians of their dependence on God. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, Paul reminds the people of Corinth that they endured difficult circumstances without spiritual inspiration. On some days, they felt like they had died internally and ...