our own accomplishments rather than the Lord’s, or as our rightful due, and to become proud rather than humble. Paul testifies that, “because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!” (2 Cor. 12:7). Third, God allows us to suffer trials in order to wean us from our dependence on worldly things. The more we accumulate material possessions