Finding Joy in Trials: How God Uses Struggles to Develop Endurance in Men

Frank Wible
Aug 17
2 min read

David had always believed that following Christ would make life easier. He thought that his faith would be a shield against hardship, a guarantee of smoother paths. But reality came crashing down when his business failed, his marriage grew cold, and his body was worn out from stress.

Man in blue shirt looks stressed, sitting at a desk with papers, coffee, and a laptop. Lamp casts warm light; dark, bookshelf backdrop. — David felt crushed under the weight of failure, wondering if God had forgotten him.

He questioned everything, including God’s promises. “Why would a loving Father let me walk through so much pain?” he prayed one late night, staring at the ceiling in the dark.

The next morning, he opened his Bible and stumbled upon Romans 5:3. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” The words seemed almost offensive at first. Rejoice in problems? Who would choose that?

But over the weeks that followed, David began to see what God was doing. Each trial had stripped away things he thought he needed, forcing him to lean more fully on Christ. He realized that God wasn’t punishing him. He was strengthening him. He began Finding Joy in Trials.

At work, when doors closed, David learned perseverance. At home, when his marriage felt fragile, he learned patience. In prayer, when answers didn’t come quickly, he learned trust.

A man and woman hold hands over an open book in a kitchen, wearing blue shirts, creating an intimate and thoughtful atmosphere. — Through trials at home, David learned patience and faith in God’s timing.

Slowly, David began to notice that he was no longer the same man who once crumbled under disappointment. He had grown tougher, steadier, and more reliant on God’s promises.

One evening, sitting with his men’s group, he shared his testimony. “I used to think trials meant God had abandoned me. Now I see that trials develop endurance, and endurance has made me into a stronger man of faith.”

His words hit home for the men listening. Many of them were walking through their own storms, and David’s perspective gave them hope. If God could use trials to develop him, then perhaps their struggles also carried hidden purpose.

David didn’t pretend that pain was easy, but he no longer feared it. Instead, he saw every challenge as an invitation to grow deeper roots in God.

Today, when trials come, he doesn’t ask “Why me?” anymore. He asks, “Lord, what do you want me to learn here?” And with each lesson, his faith grows stronger, his endurance deeper.

What once felt like punishment has become preparation. David is living proof that God doesn’t waste pain. Every trial is a tool in His hand to build men of endurance, courage, and unshakable faith.

How has God used trials in your life?