God’s Work Throughout Our Trials

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

Peter says that it is necessary for us to go through trials for a little while. I wish I could make all the troubles in my life last for just a little while, don’t you? But Peter is not talking about just a short time, he is saying that while we are on this earth, we cannot escape fiery trials that cause us stress and anxiety. While we are still in this body we are not to think it unusual that we suffer. God knows and is actually going to do something powerful in the midst of our trials. 

“In this you rejoice” (verse 6). Why would anyone rejoice in trials and tribulations? In the Greek the word rejoice as used here actually means to leap for joy. The same word is used in the book of Acts when a crippled man was healed after Peter laid hands on him (see Acts 3:9). But rejoicing while suffering defies logic and can only be reconciled in light of understanding what the Lord is causing to happen in your life. The three Hebrew men were thrown into a furnace of fire but instead of being consumed by the fire, they were brought out in perfect condition — to the glory of God. Even the king was impressed at their steadfast faith in their God (see Daniel 3:20-29).

We enjoy reading these testimonies, but God is the same today as he was then. He goes with us through all our trials and brings us through in victory if we trust him completely.