From: "Castillo, Jaime W." <jwcastil@utmb.edu>

Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 10:38:14

To: "'WalterMartin@mail.serve.com '" <WalterMartin@mail.serve.com>

Subject: WM: Trials and tribulations

Trials" and "Tribulations" come, not to strengthen people, although we are strengthened through it all, but those things are meant to destroy us and cause us to become discouraged. That's why we have the Word so that we can stand on God's Promises.---Dave

Dave,

I do not know who is teaching you this. There are two ways of looking at trials. When we look at it with Satan's eyes, then they are REALLY MEANT to DESTROY us. But with God's eyes, trials and tribulations are meant to STRENGTHEN US. Look at trials with God's eyes, and you will see the promise of Romans 8:28, about ALL things, GOOD OR BAD, working for the good of those who love God. If you say that trials' only purpose is to destroy us, then GOD inevitably becomes callous and insensitive since He does not protect us from being DESTROYED, as trials continue to persist. The mere fact that His chosen ones remain faithful to Him DESPITE trials, show that God wants us woith His eyes to see that our trials is for the STRENGTHENING OF OUR FAITH. Dave, please show biblical proof that ACCORDING TO GOD, that ALL trials and tribulations ARE PURPOSED to destroy the faithful. I have shown you some verses on why God's TRUTH is that trials are for the strengthening of our faith in Him, and I have more I can share later.

The highest example again is the cross, which further destroys your argument that only Satan does "bad things":

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it PLEASED the LORD to BRUISE him; He hath put him to grief..."

God was PLEASED to have Jesus BRUISED, and God used Satan to bruise the heel of His Son (Genesis). Are you aghast when you read this? I hope not. Tell your WOF friends that God does CREATE DISASTER (Isaiah) even to his faithful, as evidenced by His Son's sacrifice. The trial of crucifixion was not MEANT to destroy Jesus, but to SAVE mankind. In the same way, trials of Christians around the world, IN GOD'S EYES, are meant to strengthen them. The Bible is written by the Spirit who wants us to see such truth with God's eyes. Right now, the WOF people and you, Dave, are still looking at trials and tribulations with the DEVIL'S eyes. Search the Scriptures again, and see if I speak a lie.

I apologize to the forum for my voluminous messages today. With your permission, I have more thoughts on Dave's messages, but I will write them later.

Love in Christ,

Jaime