1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Every believer’s faith in Christ will be put on trial in various ways. There are trials of opposition, trials of temptation, trials of testing, trials of unforeseen circumstances. Peter identifies these trials as heaviness. They weigh down your souls. They overwhelm your mind. They seek to paralyze your faith. Some of these trials are brought upon ourselves because of sinful or foolish decisions. Like it or not, trials are part of the Christian life. Peter would write further on in this letter, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” (1 Peter 4:12) Job, a man who was tried for sure declared this, “But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
Note that Job did not say if God tried Him, but whenever God tried Him. Trials are not meant to destroy our faith in Jesus, but make our faith and hope in the gospel more precious. “The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.” (Proverbs 17:3) God does not try our hearts to discover what is in them, but to reveal to us wherein our faith lies. Romans 5:3,4 tells us, “And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” And Isaiah 48:10 says, “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Beloved, whatever your trial is this morning, do not lose heart. Jesus is our very present help in times of trouble. Cling to Him. Let the trial wean your soul from any love affairs with this fallen world. Do not doubt in darkness what God has told you in His light.
