Bad experiences might not be a joy to have while we're going through them, but it's a fact that if we wise up and see God's purposes in them, we'll learn a few things or more that will help us become better people.
Here are some things that we can learn from our bad experiences.
1. God's grace is sufficient
Bad experiences, including times of weakness and turmoil, are great avenues for us to see God's grace and mercy work so powerfully. The apostle Paul explains this beautifully in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2. God is mighty to save
Bad times, including danger and trouble, enable us to call on God and see His power mightily saving us. Just like David said in Psalm 23, when we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, God enables us to stand up against any fear. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us just how good and kind our God is:
"The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
3. God gives us wisdom
God's wisdom is so great that we don't need to go through bad experiences to gain lessons, but just the same, God's grace enables us to learn from our mistakes and grow better when we are forgiven of our sins.
Consider Job 33:29-30, where Job's friend, Elihu, speaks of God allowing bad experiences to teach us and make us want to turn away from sin and unwise choices:
"Behold, God works all these things, twice, in fact, three times with a man, to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life."
