No one likes to suffer through painful situations, but suffering is part of life—especially the life of the believer. It purifies our faith to the point where we are forced to acknowledge that we cannot depend on ourselves, but only on God. He wants to move us away from the arrogance of thinking we do not need Him, and into humility where we confess we desperately do need Him. Living godly lives guarantees persecution; however, for Christians who fully rely on God, it also guarantees deliverance from it. Trouble is never God’s will, but trusting Him in the midst of it allows Him to bring us through it and mature us. Adversity is a tool God uses to refine our faith and prepare us for the assignment in life He has for us. When we as the church let God take us where we need to go, He will powerfully anoint us for the task ahead.