Four truths about trials

As to my own circumstances, I still meet with trouble and expect no other as long as I live in this world. [Jonathan Edwards]

Things haven’t changed much since the time of Edwards.  In fact, it has always been that way, and as long as we live in an unredeemed state, it always will be that way.  Whether it is trouble caused by our own sins, persecution that arises from the sins of others against us, difficulty that comes from living in a fallen world that has cancer and tornadoes, we know trouble.

But our troubles and trials are no excuse for despondency and despair.  In fact, Peter (1 Pt. 1:3-7) tells us it is possible to rejoice in midst of suffering.  Peter offers four insights about trials in these verses:

• Trials are a necessity, not just an expectation.  They are part of the sovereign design of God for us (3:17; 4:19).  They are neither accidental nor unnecessary.  Either by decree or permission of God, these trials are for the purpose of working for our good and God’s glory in our lives.  If we hope to persevere through trials, we must begin committed to and begin grateful for this truth.
• Trials are distressing.  These trials are not trivial.  The recipients of Peter’s letter were people who had to flee for their lives and set up new homes in foreign lands.  They were persecuted in the real sense of the word (not superficially, as it is frequently used today).  However, though the pain is real, it doesn’t destroy because we are rooted in God (2 Cor. 6:10; Ps. 1:3).  Our joy is not in the suffering, but in God who sustains us in our suffering.  We would rather have God while suffering than not have suffering and not have God.
• Trials come in various forms at various times.  Varied like colors on painter’s palette, the trials we encounter are designed according to our need for the moment.  Different periods in our lives will demand different trials to conform us to the image of Christ.  And in each varied difficulty, God’s grace is just as varied and able to match the need of the moment (4:10).
• Trials are brief — for a little while.  When in the midst of a trial, it seems to be endless.  It is not.  It has an end, and it will come quickly.  Oh, it may not appear to be quick from the perspective of minutes and hours and days and years on earth, but viewed through the lens of eternity, it is brief.  It is only for this time that we are on earth.  And for the believer, what is even 70 years of trial in comparison to the ten thousand years that will mark only the briefest beginning of eternity?  To endure the difficulty, we must regularly remind ourselves that life here is short, eternity is long (that’s probably the most understated thing I’ve said all week), and when in glory every weight that we’ve borne will seem light and oh-so-worthwhile to conform us to the image of Christ.

Our hope is to look beyond the distress (vv. 3-5), and see the hand of our trustworthy God (4:19) who is capable of rescuing godly men from trials (2 Pt. 2:9).

Yes, you have trials, and an even greater yes is that God is trustworthy for you in the trial.