Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  0  »  4015 life  »  4019 life, believers' experience of

God is at work in all that happens to believers, whether to warn them, to draw them to himself or to do them good.

God has a purpose in all the experiences that believers have in life

Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11 See also Genesis 21:22; Genesis 28:16; Genesis 39:20-21; Genesis 45:5-8; 1 Samuel 2:6-9; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Job 42:10-13; Psalm 75:6-7; Acts 17:28; 1 Peter 4:12

Rejection of this conviction leads to despair

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2,16-17

God uses every experience in the lives of believers for good

To warn and correct

Psalm 119:67 See also Genesis 12:17; 2 Chronicles 7:13-14; Job 5:17; Isaiah 38:17; Isaiah 48:9-10; Amos 4:10-11; Romans 2:4; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 9:20-21

To test and exercise believers' trust in God

Deuteronomy 8:15-16 See also Exodus 15:22-25; Judges 2:21-22; Psalm 23:1-6; Psalm 81:7; Isaiah 43:1-2; Nahum 1:7; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 4:12; Hebrews 11:17-19; Hebrews 13:6

To purify and prepare believers for glory

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 See also Job 23:10; Psalm 66:10; Isaiah 48:10; Jeremiah 9:7; Zechariah 13:8-9; Romans 5:3-5; Romans 8:28-30; 1 Peter 1:6-7

To benefit others

Esther 4:14; 2 Corinthians 1:3-6; Corinthians 4:15; Philippians 1:12-14; 2 Timothy 2:10

In all of life's experiences believers should be thankful and trusting

Philippians 4:6 See also Genesis 8:20 Noah's sacrifice would, among other things, express his thankfulness; Deuteronomy 8:18; Job 1:20-21; Psalm 103:1-2; Proverbs 3:5-6; Acts 16:25; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Believers do not merit the blessings they receive

Psalm 103:10 See also Genesis 32:10; Genesis 50:19-21; Ezra 9:13; Lamentations 3:22; Luke 7:6; Romans 6:23

See also

1130  God, sovereignty
1180  God, wisdom of
1190  glory
5596  victory
6248  temptation
6705  peace, experience
8206  Christlikeness
8230  discipline
8347  spiritual growth
8352  thankfulness
8459  perseverance