◄ What Does 1 Peter 1:7 Mean? ►

God's will for all His children is that we rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in all things to give thanks to Him, even during the inevitable difficulties of life that we all have to face, and in the midst of the various trials that are the portion of all humanity.

Trials are a criterion that God uses to test and increase our faith in Him, and to appraise and develop our trust in His Word. We are told in the Scriptures to rejoice greatly in the Lord, even though for a time we may have to suffer much grief and all kinds of difficulties.

The trial that comes our way is not a stick of punishment from an angry God for our misdemeanours, but the corrective, chastening rod of our loving Heavenly Father Who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to pay the price for our sin so that by believing in Him, we might receive forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.

Trials may not be easy, but God is ultimately in control and He has promised that they will last but for a short season and are designed for a distinct and wonderful purpose, which will only become fully evident when the Lord Jesus returns for His Church.

The trying experiences of today are preparing us for a glorious tomorrow. They are designed to test our faith, develop our faith, hone our faith, and increase our faith in our Father in heaven. The faith of each of His children is valuable to the Lord, more precious to Him than much fine gold, which will one day perish.

Gold that is purified is tested in the fire to remove all its impurities, blemishes, and imperfections. In like manner, the faith of a Christian needs to be pure, unblemished, and perfect, and the trials of life are designed to purify our hearts, increase our dependence upon the Lord Jesus, deepen our love for our Saviour, enrich our spiritual lives, strengthen our hope in His many precious promises, and increase our faith in the Word of God. For the faith of His children is of much more value to our Father-in-heaven than gold or silver.

Let us rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all things, even during the trials that come our way: "Knowing that the trial of our faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me in all my trials. What a blessing to realise that when I go through trials, the end result can be a stronger faith which is much more precious than gold. I know the refining process that I am going through is difficult, but I pray that when I have been tried in the fire, my faith would come forth as gold, to Your praise, and honour, and glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN.