“The Lord our God has shown us His glory” (Deuteronomy 5:24)

God's manifests His glory to all creation. Because He’s the definition of good, this is not only appropriate, but beneficial for all living things. But how can the glory of God be appreciated by fallen mankind, who ignore Him? “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them …. so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful” (Romans 1:19-21).

To a smaller degree, saints suffer the same delusion of self-importance. Because saints are flesh and spirit, they must periodically be humbled, to re-calibrate their relationship with Christ. Trials are necessary, to teach saints to depend on Him. He brings them out into deep waters so they’ll re-learn to give Him glory. “He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses” (Psalms 107:25-28).

Your troubles enrich you with a wealth of knowledge. Your trials are the cleft of the rock in which God places you, as He did with Moses, so you can behold His glory as He passes by. Praise God, you haven’t been left in the ignorance of selfishness, but in overcoming affliction by the hand of God, you’ve manifested His glory in His wonderful dealings with you.