Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
6 “So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to GOD than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7
Peter mentions suffering several times throughout this letter. When he speaks of trials, he is not talking about natural disasters or the experience of GOD’s punishments, but the response of an unbelieving world to people of faith. All believers face such trials when they let their light shine into the darkness. We must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. Trials teach us patience and help us to grow and be the kind of people GOD wants.
3 “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. 4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly GOD loves us, because HE has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with HIS love.” – Romans 5:3-5 – Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know GOD is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attack to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance – which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in GOD, and give us greater confidence about the future. Perhaps you are experiencing problems and trials today. Thank GOD for those opportunities to grow in HIM – and deal with them in HIS strength – not your own.
2 “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” – James 1:2-4 – James does not say if trouble comes your way but whenever it does. James is telling us we will have troubles – this side of heaven – and that it is possible to profit from them. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain but to have a positive outlook. He tells us to “let it be an opportunity for joy” because of what troubles can produce in our life. And, he tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Hard times can teach us perseverance. We can not really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. GOD wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Rather than complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank GOD for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask HIM to help you solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. GOD will not leave you alone with your problems; HE will stay close and help you grow.
As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. Steel is tempered or strengthened by heating it in fire. Likewise, our trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen our faith, making us useful to GOD.
8 “You love HIM even though you have never seen HIM. Though you do not see HIM, you trust HIM; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 Your reward for trusting HIM will be the salvation of your soul.” – 1 Peter 1:8-9
Father, as YOUR children we do love YOU and we trust YOU. We are truly filed with happiness and inexpressible joy for what YOU have done and will do in our lives. Thank YOU, LORD for promising to be with us in our rough times. Help us to remember to ask YOU, our Father, to solve our problems or to give us the strength to endure them – we can not do it without YOU. Father GOD, we know that the problems we run into will develop our perseverance – which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in YOU, and give us greater confidence about our future. Thank GOD for opportunities to grow and thank YOU that we do not have to deal with them in our own strength because YOU, LORD have given us the power and endurance through YOUR strength.
Photo: Lamoine (Maine)
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
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