– 1 Peter 4:12-16 NKJV – 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
I guess over the years I no longer “think it strange concerning fiery trials”. In the past, especially early in my Christian walk, absolutely yes! I did not get it, I did not understand why trials would happen. I would think, what am I doing wrong that would cause the enemy to attack?
But learning through trial (no pun intended) and error, I learned that if the enemy is attacking then I must be doing something right. Because why would he attack if I were doing something wrong? In the past before I was a Christian, there was no need for temptation because I was living a worldly life. Sometimes though as a Christian, the temptations and trials we face can feel more like a punishment instead of something to rejoice in. But I also learned from reading God’s word that trials can strengthen our faith, instead of deplete our faith.
And through trial and error I also had to learn when I myself had opened the door for an attack, through anger, frustration, complaining, disappointment.
“Rejoicing” during any kind of trial can be a struggle, because it does not feel good to go through a trial, it’s not fun. At my age in my walk, I get it, I understand it, yes trials are going to happen, they’re hard to be avoided. But I have also learned, again through trial and error, that when I do stop and consider suffering for Christ’s sake as a blessing and not punishment, then I am able to get through a trial much faster than I would if I stay angry, frustrated, complaining, disappointed during a trial.
When Moses led the Israelite’s out of Egypt, their journey to the Promise Land lasted 40 years. But bible scholars have estimated that the distance between Egypt and the Promise Land was a 2 week journey. Imagine how much sooner they could have reached their destination if they would have just trusted God during their journey. Their complaining and murmuring prolonged their journey, wandering aimlessly in the desert. Imagine if maybe they had passed by the Promise Land several times during their wandering in the desert journey, and just did not realize it.
How much do we miss out on in life too when we focus more on the trial instead of the One who can get us through a trial? Thankfully we have God, our Father there to help us, comfort us, guide us through any fiery trial we encounter, as long as we put our faith in Him.
I pray that we learn to laugh at the face of danger, to find it joyful through trials, to ignore the attacks of the enemy. So how is it possible to “count it all joy” in a trial? Just think back to times when a situation was so dumb and ridiculous that you could not help but to laugh instead of crying.
James 1:2-8 NKJV – 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
