"Man's days are few and full of trouble." But what is going on when we experience life's trials? Here is a little distinction that may help.

Tests are when God allows us to go through a trial for the purpose of bringing the best out in us. Abram was tested when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abram passed the test. He came out stronger and better.
Temptations occur when we face a trial and Satan wants to bring the worst out in us. Eve was tempted when the serpent led her to disobey God. Eve yielded to temptation and suffered for it.

Sometimes a test and a temptation occur simultaneously. Study the examples of Job and Jesus. So too, we must be alert when trouble comes. We can either cooperate with God and make it into a growing experience (James 1:3); or, we can yield to Satan's temptations which will of course make a bad situation worse when we suffer the consequences of sin. Thankfully, in every situation God gives us freedom to chose: Will we trust God, or not?