Have you ever awakened and felt great to begin your day in a positive mood? Your "hope meter" for enjoying a great day was pegged on "high." You just knew things could not be better!

That morning at the supermarket, you grabbed a grocery cart and began pushing it around the store, picking up items you needed to purchase, when one of the front wheels suddenly fell off! The basket skewed and tipped over. Seconds later, you realized other shoppers were looking at you as if you had done something wrong.

Later, after the embarrassment wore off, you stopped by the hardware store, picking up a small basket at the entrance since you needed only a few items. But, after putting one or two of them in the basket, the handle broke off, spilling everything on the floor with loud clacks and clangs. Once again, you were the object of everyone's gaze, many looking accusingly at you as if you did it on purpose.

Finally, back home, you realized you should mow the lawn. So you added fuel, checked the oil, and got everything ready, but not two minutes into mowing, the machine died. You tried to restart it, again and again—all to no avail. You wasted the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out just what went wrong.

Do these circumstances sound familiar? They are minor issues that seemed disastrous at the time. It appears that no matter what we do, trouble and adversity follow us, sometimes even grievous misfortunes. It may seem that no one else is experiencing such problems. Why do they always happen to us?

The apostle Paul cites a reason in I Corinthians 10:13:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Peter says something similar in I Peter 4:12-13:

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Most of us have been in the church for many years and realize that adversity, troubles, trials, and even tragedy, occur in our lives. This is not new to us. However, we may still have some questions about the whys of Christian troubles, so we will answer three common questions:

1. Do we have to go through adversity and trials?

2. Is there help available to guide us?

3. What benefits will we gain by passing through adversity?

Enduring some trials and hardships can become almost overwhelming, especially when they follow quickly upon one another. We may feel as if we cannot catch our breath. However, the truth is that this problem is not unique to us! Our brethren are also experiencing similar adverse circumstances. For our benefit and instruction, the saints of the Bible left many examples of their trials during their walks with God.

Job comes to mind, suffering one catastrophe after another. He lost his children, livestock, and health, and his wife nagged him to curse God and die. His so-called friends caused more anguish by "helping" him understand his sins. Yet, in the end, God showed Job his error, restored his wealth, and blessed him with twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10).

Joseph is another example of experiencing hardship, affliction, and tribulation. His issues included his brothers' jealousy, being sold into slavery, being falsely accused of adultery, and being forgotten in prison. Even so, God helped him endure it all and blessed him, elevating him to second in command in Egypt and positioning him to save perhaps millions from famine.

David, too, seems to have faced almost constant adversity. As a young shepherd protecting his father's flock, he had to deal with lions and bears. He contended with Goliath and other Philistines who attacked Israel. After that, King Saul sought to kill him, chasing him all over the Judean wilderness. Still later in his life, he experienced distress and discouragement when his sons fought him and among themselves. David, though, knew where to turn for help:

For innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! (Psalm 40:12-13)

All these men went to God for help, setting us an example. As God's people, those with whom He is working to bring into His image, we will have difficulty and adversity in this life. But like them, we must go to God for strength to help us endure and overcome. No matter how strong we believe we are, we cannot handle it alone, and trying to do so is futile and counterproductive. We must rely on God and His Spirit. Jesus Christ is our Rock, our strength. By ourselves, we can do nothing, but through the One who strengthens us, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

As God's children, we must undergo adversity to build endurance, character, and hope. Paul writes:

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

These virtues are the result of overcoming trials and tribulation. We must guard against becoming discouraged by the onslaught of afflictions. Our Adversary, the Devil, wants us to fail. But we must draw close to God, who will draw near to us to help us develop His righteous character (James 4:8). With precise timing, God creates circumstances and testing to build His character in us. With experience, we can then help others who are enduring similar struggles.

In Part Two, we will continue to consider how afflictions help us in our Christian walk.