Yes — God allows believers to suffer as a purposeful test of faith and love, and He faithfully carries them through it.
Les Feldick teaches that God may bring tough things into a believer's life to bring them to the place He wants them to be (Clip1, Clip4). Suffering also reveals whether a person truly loves God (Clip1), and God never promises a trouble-free path but promises to escort believers through the valley and never forsake them (Clip5). God sets a limit on every test and always provides a way to escape (Clip2, Clip7).
Romans 8:28 — Shows that all things, even painful ones, work together for good for those who love God.
1 Corinthians 10:13 — Directly answers how believers can endure suffering: God limits the test and provides a way of escape.
God does not promise believers a life without adversity. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This promise is for those who love God. First Corinthians 10:13 further says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." God is faithful to limit the test and provide a way through it. Hebrews 4:15-16 points to Christ as a High Priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and encourages believers to come boldly to the throne of grace to find mercy and grace in time of need. Genesis 22:8 records Abraham's trusting answer, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering," which he spoke during the most severe test of his life. Romans 8:31 also asks, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Les Feldick consistently teaches that suffering and tribulation are part of living in a fallen world and are not removed when a person becomes a believer. He says believers are not promised a "rose-petaled pathway"; they are still in a body of flesh and in a time of trials, and God is not removing them from that but has promised, "I'll see you through it" (Clip5). God escorts believers through valleys and never forsakes them. Les also teaches that God has a purpose in bringing hard experiences into our lives. He says God may bring tough things into our life for His own purpose, to bring us to the place He wants us to be. Looking back, Les says he can thank God for things that at the time he questioned, because they brought him to where he is (Clip1, Clip4). This is the qualified promise of Romans 8:28: all things work together for good — for the believer. At the same time, Les insists that suffering is not proof of salvation and is not something believers should manufacture. He says, "We don't have to suffer these things just to prove that we are a Christian" (Clip3). Testing is always limited: God is faithful and will not permit believers to be tested above what they are able, and He will make a way of escape (Clip2, Clip7). Even the apostle Paul — the one who wrote "If God be for us, who against us?" — suffered greatly, showing that the promise of God's presence does not mean immunity from pain (Clip6).
No. Les Feldick says believers are not promised a "rose-petaled pathway" or a Garden of Eden. We are still in this old world, in a body of flesh, and in a time of trials and tribulations. God is not removing us from that; He simply says, "I'll see you through it." We can go through valleys, but God will always escort us and never forsake us (Clip5). Paul also suffered greatly as a believer, demonstrating that following God does not exempt a person from hardship (Clip6).
Les teaches that God may bring tough things into our lives for His own purpose, to bring us to the place He wants us to be (Clip1). This is why Romans 8:28 is so important: all things work together for good to those who love God — but the qualification is "the believer" (Clip4). Les shares from his own experience that he can look back on hard times and say, "Praise the Lord that that took place because it brought me to where I am." In every test, God is faithful and will not permit more than we can bear; He always provides a way of escape (Clip2, Clip7).
Les uses the illustration of a person who, when invited to partake of the love of God, says "I hate God." People like that, he explains, are the first ones who, when things go a little bad, say, "Well, where's God?" Hard times expose whether a person actually loves God (Clip1). Abraham's test with Isaac shows the opposite response: even when he did not yet see the lamb, Abraham told his son, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering," and he and Isaac went on together in obedience (Clip0).
Les directly rejects the idea that suffering must be manufactured or is required to prove salvation. He says, "We don't have to suffer these things just to prove that we are a Christian." He even warns a young pastor that he may have been promoting persecution by his own attitudes toward the community (Clip3). God does not call believers to create their own hardships.
Les points to Hebrews 4:14-16, saying that believers will face temptation every day until they leave this life, but they have promises to hang on to. The writer urges believers to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that they may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. God also promises that with every test He will make a way to escape, so that believers may be able to bear it (Clip2, Clip7).
Abraham's Trust Under Test
Les points to Abraham's response — "God will provide himself a lamb" — as an example of trusting God even when the test seems impossible. Abraham's obedience shows that testing reveals genuine faith.
God's Purpose in Tough Times
Les explains that God may bring tough things into a believer's life for His own purpose, to bring the believer to where God wants him. Hard times also reveal who does not really love God.
God Limits Testing and Provides an Escape
Les teaches from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God is faithful, will not allow testing above what a believer can endure, and will always make a way of escape — pictured by an army finding a hidden canyon exit.
Suffering Is Not Proof of Salvation
Les rejects the idea that a believer must suffer indignities to prove Christianity, and he warns that some people may bring persecution on themselves by their attitudes.
All Things Work Together for the Believer
Les emphasizes that Romans 8:28 is for the believer, not the world; even "not-so-good" things can later be seen as working for good as God brings a believer where He wants.
No Rose-Petaled Pathway
Les teaches that becoming a believer does not remove tribulation; God doesn't take us out of the world's trials but escorts us through valleys and never forsakes us.
Paul Suffered Though God Was for Him
Les uses Paul's own hardships in 2 Corinthians 11 to show that "If God be for us, who against us" is not a promise that nothing bad will happen to believers.
Daily Temptation and the Way of Escape
Les applies 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Hebrews 4 to the believer's daily temptations, showing that God is faithful to provide a way to escape and that believers can come boldly to the throne of grace.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Les uses this verse to show that God works even hard things together for the believer's good.
1 Corinthians 10:13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
This verse assures believers that God limits testing and always provides a way of escape.
Hebrews 4:15-16: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Believers in trial are told to come confidently to God's throne for mercy and help.
Genesis 22:8: And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Abraham's trusting words during his greatest test show faith in God's provision.
Romans 8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Les explains this verse is not a promise of immunity, since the same Paul who wrote it suffered greatly.
No. Les says believers are not promised a rose-petaled pathway; we still live in a body of flesh in a time of trials, and God is not removing us from that — He says He'll see us through it.
No. God is faithful and will not permit you to be tested above that you are able, and with the testing He will make a way to escape so you can bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
No. Les specifically says we don't have to suffer indignities just to prove we're a Christian. Suffering is not a requirement for salvation.
No. Les points to Paul, the same man who wrote that, and all he suffered in 2 Corinthians 11 — so the verse is not a promise of immunity from hardship.
Les says God brings tough things into our lives for His own purpose, to bring us to the place He wants us to be; later we can look back and thank Him for it.
Watch the Teaching: Abraham’s Test of Faith: Why God Asked for Isaac – Bible Study