Tried By Fire
The alarm clock screams “good morning” as you fumble to silence the noise. Weary and tired you drag yourself upright for another day of hustle and bustle. Bills to pay, mouths to feed, meetings to attend; the never ending hamster wheel of life eager and ready for another daily grind, but you aren’t having it.
Mid morning the phone rings, and you recognize the number as your doctor. “Why are they calling? I already had my annual check up.” The words on the other end cause your heart to race and your blood to turn cold simultaneously.
Breast cancer
Appointment with an oncologist
Records already sent over
Hanging up the phone in a daze, you’re not sure if you understood everything that was just spoken. You’re not even sure if it was real. The drops of water on your desk reveal the overwhelming emotions flooding your system, but you haven’t even had enough time to process and name them yet. Grief. Anger. Sadness. Fear. Disbelief. Anxiety. Yep, all present and accounted for.
“God, help me”, are the only words to escape your lips.
This life is hard. Some seasons are more difficult than others, but no trial is ever enjoyable. The very definition of the word says it all. It reads as such:
trial (noun): a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation
“Oh yeah, that sounds like a ton of fun! Where do I sign up?”, said no one ever.
I am thankful for a God; however, Who understands our struggles and sorrows. Let us not forget all the suffering our Jesus endured while He walked on this earth. He even told us we would have troubles in this life (John 16:33), so we should not be caught off guard.
That fact does not make it any easier, I know, but hopefully as we study today’s passage in 1 Peter, you may gain a fresh perspective that will offer some encouragement and hope, especially if you find yourself in a deep valley currently. If your season is fairly smooth right now, make sure to take copious notes and keep for later, because the storm clouds will roll in eventually.
Let’s read today’s scriptures and discuss.
Develop and Deepen
One of the best ways for us to learn anything, is by experience. If you look at the professional sector, there was a shift which happened many years ago away from skilled, manual labor jobs, over to technology based vocations. This was due to the rise of computers, software and the internet. The tech wars began and have been raging hard for over a couple of decades now.
However, today we are seeing a slow, swing back to apprentice type, blue collar workers, (and I hope it continues) because we are so desperate for skilled labor. Learning how to operate a machine, work on equipment or pour concrete, develops best outside of the classroom and in the dirt, itself.
The same can be said of the trials we may face during our lifetime. These experiences are meant to develop and/or deepen our understanding of Who God is and how He operates. As we read in verse 8, Peter is explaining how even though you haven’t seen Jesus, you love Him and have great joy at the thought of Him.
How can we love someone we have never met face to face? How do we know them if we cannot see them? All by experience. God wants us to know Him, period. He does not stay hidden and cloaked. He is ready with open arms. We are hesitant most of the time, because as humans, we tend to fear the unknown.
“In this world you will have troubles.” Why did Jesus say this? Because He knows man is wicked and sinful at the heart, and we will do wicked and sinful things- which could, one day, affect us in a very negative way. Welcome to a trial.
“For you are merely a vapor”. Why did James quote a concept that was repeated often in the Old Testament? Because this flesh is fragile. In my opening example I used cancer, but it could be a heart attack, car accident, degenerative disease, Alzheimer’s, divorce, bankruptcy…. just to name a few. Cue the struggle.
Whatever form the shadow takes when it comes, it gives opportunity for the Light to shine the brightest. As Steffany Gretzinger would say, “Open up, let the Light in”.
Growth
Have you ever experienced a time when God showed up and showed out? I know I have, and it does something to your heart, mind and soul that no thing or no one can take from you. That feeling is your faith muscle working out and growing stronger.
When the dark clouds of sadness and sorrow come, you will strain your eyes, searching for the tiniest speck of light, so you are reminded- He is watching. When the Light does break through, another form of faith begins to develop called trust.
The Lord will take what is burning down in our lives, gather those ashes and turn them into something extraordinary. He has thus proven Himself faithful, and our belief in Him begins to grow. Make no mistake, this is for our benefit- not His. God IS faithful, this is part of His character that will not change, but we do not know this, until we experience it first hand.
Why do you follow Jesus? Do you really believe what you say you believe? Are you in this journey for the long road? These are some questions that difficulties help to shape and polish. Peter calls this the “genuineness” of our faith. (vs 7) Will you stand by the Word of God, when everything around you is crumbling? Will you cling to what you know to be true, when your heart is shattered into a million, tiny pieces? Will you serve Him until the end of your days, when there are voices telling you to just give up?
God is looking to develop you into a strong solider, and the exercise of a trial will stretch you. Why does He need to do this? Because the last time I read my Word, I’m pretty sure the story we are in is violent. There is an enemy who hates our souls and wants nothing more than to kill, steal and destroy us. God needs to expand us, to make room for more of His power.
Power and Protection
I had to read 1 Peter 1:5 a couple of times to let it sink in. It seems there is a correlation between our faith, God’s power and His protection over us. (Go on, go back and read it again) Stop and chew on that for a moment. That is a game changer in your relationship with Christ in my opinion and a concept, that when grasped, could break your faith wide open! Here is the way I see it.
Tribulations come and God is able to work in those hardships, which develops a better understanding of His character and nature, leading to increased trust of Him, and thus expanding our faith.
The expansion of our faith, allows for more “room” for God to operate in power. Meaning when the next trial comes, we are less shaken and distraught, because we remember the faithfulness of God from the previous experience we had with Him. Fear is reduced, anxiety is lessened and we are able to walk through the season with clearer vision and thought, eager to allow Him to work the circumstances out for our good. This also reduces the tendency to take control of uncomfortable things and “fix” it ourselves. As our faith grows, more and more is placed into His powerful, large hands.
Because of our increased trust of the Lord, the voice and influence of the evil one become less. Satan loses his power and hold over our hearts and minds, which creates an atmosphere of peace around and in us. We are able to more clearly hear the voice of our Good Shepherd directing us through the minefield, keeping us safe.
It sounds so simple, and neat and tidy laid out in three, minuscule bulletins. We all know, including myself, this is never easy. The lesson we learn in one season, may not be the one we have again the next. It could be a whole new truth God is trying to show us about Himself, and in the moment- the unknown becomes frightening, sobs overwhelm us, and we suddenly feel so small and alone.
This is why we must continue to keep all the pieces close to us, guard the lessons they teach and never get tired of putting them all together. Remember, our Savior is developing a gorgeous picture for us. We see what that is in verses 3, 4 and 9.
The Reward
Home
The place you feel safe, loved and wanted.
This is what we are fighting to get to, every day of our lives on this earth. Our faith helps us get there, because it’s the vehicle God can use to keep us on the straight and narrow. This is why Peter told us our faith is “infinitely more precious than the perishable gold.” (vs 7) It is our belief and trust in God, which gets us through all this life will throw at us, until finally we receive our inheritance.
And praise the Lord for grace during our travels! We will not be strong in every trial, and that is OK. Some lessons we have to repeat, because we failed to learn them the first time. (or the second, third or fourth time) Some days we will want to close the blinds, pull the blankets over our heads and pray the day passes quickly, hoping tomorrow will be different. This is also OK. God is there through it all… working it out. As a matter of fact, when we are at our weakest, this is when He shines in strength. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Let me also remind you, as Peter states in verse 6, these struggles are only for “a little while”. The pain will not be with you always. However, since I believe in being honest, please know, it could always be with you on Earth. But there is great hope, dear friends. It cannot follow you to Glory!
There will be a day when every tear is wiped from our eyes, and there will be no more pain, death or sorrow. (Revelation 21:4)
Home!
Our beloved city. The place where Jesus, at this very moment, is preparing a place for us to live. An inheritance beyond the reach of decay and change, unsullied and unfading. (1 Peter 1:4) Our full, total freedom and salvation. (vs 9)
Home!
Hold fast!
Fight the good fight!
Grow in the struggles, learn from the trials. Expand your faith so much, the devil doesn’t even have the tiniest foothold in your life to bring doubt and fear. The battles will be worth it in the end. When we stand face to face with our Savior, and hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”, not a single moment of grief we encountered here, will cross our mind.
Because we will be home at last.