. . . 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 (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV).
I knew a couple—active in their local church and, to all appearances, committed Christians—who stopped believing in God after tragedy struck their family. First, they struggled with trusting God. "If God is good," they wondered, "how could he allow our young son to die? How could he allow this kind of suffering?"
None of the answers they received satisfied them. "What good is faith in God," they asked, "if he won't at least protect us from severe trials like this one?" They were angry with God and stopped going to church. Eventually they stopped believing God even existed. It's been thirty years now and they persist in their unbelief.
The loss of their son showed that their faith had been a quid pro quo kind of faith: they believed, but they expected that God, in turn, would protect them from tragedy. Their faith, despite appearances, was not genuine faith and their trial revealed it.
But true believers keep on trusting in the midst of suffering because they know their only hope is for God to carry them through it. And as they suffer, real believers see that their ultimate hope is not in this world, but in eternity with God. Their trials demonstrate the genuineness of their faith, not so God can see its quality, but so they can. And when they do, they will be assured what they hope for most will be finally be theirs.
So believers (real ones, that is) can "count it all joy" when trials come because every trial they endure shows their faith is true. And better yet, every trial works to make their true faith more true, because as genuine faith endures suffering, it becomes more steadfast and more mature. Suffering, then, both proves faith and improves it (James 1:2-4).
Count it all joy, my sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds . . . (James 1:2).
Going through a trial now (Dh has kidney disease, now showing symptoms/pain), so this was much needed. THank you
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you are in the midst of a trial, Tammy. But God is good . . .
DeleteThrough the loss of two children the Lord gave comfort and peace that passed all understanding.It was not easy but we grew in our love for Him and I long for heaven.
ReplyDeleteIt is a prayer from my heart that this couple, any who have suffered the loss of a loved-one, seek and accept the ministering of the Holy Spirit to draw them and establish them in the truth of the Gospel of Christ.
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