One reason God gives us trials is to test our faith. Although trials never destroy the faith of a true believer (rather it strengthens their faith), they do expose the reality of a person’s faith. True character comes out in the midst of trials.
William Perkins, an old puritan says this:
What is God's will for your life? What, ultimately, does he want you to achieve? The Bible gives a fairly clear answer - "this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thess 4:3, ESV). He wants you to grow and mature and become as much like Jesus Christ as you can. Everything else is a consequence or a 'working out' of that one goal.
Consider the following:
Acts 16 marks the beginning of Paul’s second missionary journey. After delivering the letter from the Jerusalem Council to the believers in Antioch, Paul decides to revisit those places where he had previously set up churches. Along with Silas he sets out to deliver the letter and encourage those churches. After recruiting Timothy to his mission and having been directed by the Holy Spirit to Philippi in Macedonia, Luke tells the story three very different people and the power of the gospel to unite them.
