The Lord leaves some of the Canaanites in the land to test the younger generation in Israel, to see what was in their hearts, if they would follow Him or turn to other gods.

God could have chosen another way to test their hearts, to see if they were choosing Him. He chose this way because it was good for them.

Judges 3 verse 2 says, “It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.”

It was only so He could teach them what they needed to know.

We need to remember this lesson when we face a struggle, maybe most commonly something tempting us to doubt God, to rely on ourselves and our own understanding, to turn to this or that to just fix it instead of turning to God and letting Him grow us and save us in more ways than one.

What’s the lesson? That these trials and temptations are chosen by God for our good. They are a gift.

God doesn’t send tests to see if we fail. God doesn’t send tests because He’s needy and needs the affirmation over and over again that we’re His.

We’re to give thanks in every circumstance because we can. It’s all good. Every little bit of trial and struggle and temptation is all for our good. It’s allowed by the tenderhearted mercy of God.

We need Him. We need to know we need Him. He trains us for battle, but part of the training is knowing we need Him on our side, that we can’t fight our battles on our own. The victory is in knowing it is good. And so, we look to Him and give thanks.