“In all this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

Trials

Like the waves breaking against the sand at the seashore, the trials keep coming. One after another they come—some large, some small, threatening to drag me under and carry me out to sea, and I don’t swim. I claw my way to the edge of the sand, dripping wet, barely wiping the “trial” from my eyes—and here comes another.

Can you relate? Why trials?

James tells us in his epistle to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

So trials test our faith. Are we going to go it alone, or are we going to invite Jesus into the trial and persevere?

James continues in verse 4: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I must have a lot of testing going on right now and sure do want to grow up and lack nothing good God has for me.

James goes on to say in verses 5 through 8: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

The key to conquering trials is believing God will do what He says He will do and that He will help us as we call out to Him and trust His will. The result will be praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed.

So let us look to Jesus and in the lyrics of an old hymn: “Here comes Jesus, see Him walking on the water, He’ll lift you up and He’ll help you to stand; Oh, here comes Jesus, He’s the Master of the waves that roll. Here comes Jesus, He’ll make you whole.”*

“Thank You, Jesus, that You are there for us as we go through trials of many kinds. We know that it is for our benefit and for Your glory. Help us today to focus on You and walk where You would have us walk with joy. Amen.”

*CCLI Song # 97593 // Cordelia Spitzer | William J. Floyd // © 1971 Hope Publishing Company