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This was contributed by Fr. Antonious Henein on an Orthodox List a little while ago.  I am not sure of the original provenance but it is an excellent short piece on the divine purpose in allowing us to experience temptations:-  (Fr. Gregory)

"One can distinguish five reasons why God allows the devils to attack us:

First, so that from attack and counter-attack we may become practised in
discerning good from evil;

Second, so that our virtue may be maintained in the heat of the struggle and so be confirmed in an impregnable position;

Third, so that as we advance in virtue we may avoid presumption and learn
humility;

Fourth, to inspire in us an unreserved hatred for evil through the
experience we thus have of it;

Fifth, and above all, that we may attain inner freedom and remain convinced
both of our own weakness and of the strength of Him Who has come to our aid."