1 Peter 4:12 says, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.”
Trial, by biblical definition means this = an examination by a test; experiment; suffering that puts strength, patience, or faith to the test; afflictions or temptations that exercise and prove graces of virtues of men; test of virtue.
So so so good!
To many, the “trials” we face cannot be imagined to originate from a grace-filled benevolent God, but we have forgotten that God’s purpose for those who belong to Him is not to secure the greatest amount of “enjoyment”, but to place every man in the position of discipleship.... to give us the opportunity to resist temptation, to cultivate Christ-like habits, and to live an obedient, submissive, and truly righteous life.
Ahh but God doesn’t allow pain without purpose. And I believe He watches closely and with intense interest. I believe that He delights in seeing gold purified in the furnace and wheat winnowed from the chaff.
Trials and suffering of any kind are necessary in that they strengthen our faith and build our spiritual muscles. Trials keep us constantly reaching out and up. They keep us needing Him at a whole new level. My commentary says, “Too much comfort might make us think ourselves at home, so that we might not so ardently reach out our hands towards our coming glories!”
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