Peter 1:6-7 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. v.7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (Nlt).
Have you ever wondered why you go through so many trials or how you're supposed to react to them? I think these verses help explain some of our struggles don't you? God doesn't necessarily send the test but it allows us to see if our faith is weak and needs strengthening in some areas.
Scripture tells us every believer goes 'through' stuff, no one is exempt, so we can take some consolation from that, but the challenge in these verses is to find the joy in the midst of it all.
I think what Peter is trying to explain is that no matter how tough your trial is, it will bring you something to shout about at the end of it. Have you ever asked yourself why am I having to go through this, what is it all about? The Holy Spirit is saying through Peter that our faith is being tested. You never know how real or good something is until you test it to make sure it's working.
It's a bit like the brakes on your car, you don't know if they work till you try them out or you don't know if you will pass the school exam or test until you sit the test and get the results!
Really he's trying to encourage us all to look beyond the trial because the rewards will be so big by comparison.
He says when you pass the test, when you choose to stand strong in your faith and keep trusting God no matter what it looks or feels like, it will bring you so much praise and glory and honour when Jesus returns for us that you'll be so glad you kept standing. Not only that but we're pleasing our heavenly Father when we keep our faith strong, and Jesus' name is honoured and glorified too.
So no matter what is happening with you, remember it's proving your faith is genuine, so you get a beautiful reward at the end of it. One translation says Rejoice which means Jump for Joy!
Be encouraged. It will all be worth it - there is wonderful joy ahead. Now that is something to be glad about and why we can rejoice in the midst of the trials.😊 Thank you Jesus.
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