Fiery Trials

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

When I was a “baby” Christ follower, my pastor preached a sermon about trials and tribulation. Afterwards, I told him I had never had such experiences as he was talking about. I’ll never forget his answer. He said, “Cheer up, you will!”

A Christ follower’s life is not carefree. The truth is, we experience trials that test our faith and trust in God. Maybe instead of the word trials, I should choose the same words as the Apostle Peter — “fiery trials.” Regardless of what you call them, God has a purpose in them, and has promised to see us through them [1 Corinthians 10:13]. 

I guess the big question is, what purpose does God have for the hardships we face? Here are a few things to consider.

First, God uses painful experiences to cleanse and purify us. If nothing else, fiery trials drive us to the Lord. As we fall on our knees, we begin to focus on Him. It’s then that we begin to see things from a different perspective and often become more aware of our fallenness.

Second, God may allow difficulties in our lives as a way of testing our faith, endurance, and/or devotion to Him. And don’t think it is for God’s knowledge of how we’re doing, it’s for ours. Listen to the word of the Lord to the Israelites, “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” [Deuteronomy 8:2-3].

Third, God often uses suffering to display His power to sustain us. What better way to demonstrate His glory than to bring us through difficult times! Beside what it does for us, it’s an encouragement to others. When they see that we have made it through a fiery trial, they witness God’s sustaining power and know that they can make it through as well.

Fourth, hardships strengthen our testimony. During our struggles, we often feel overwhelmed. But once the storm has passed, we can look back and see that the Lord’s hand has, once again, carried us through.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4:12-13