June 15 2020

I came across a few notes I jotted down a few years ago and which I got to share with a cardiologists and staff as I was laying on a table being tested. I had mentioned to one of the nurses about trials when the Dr a few minutes later asked me to share about them… so I did 🙂 Ive added a few quotes to help….Hope they encourage you …

Here are Six Aspects for the trials they are going through. If you get your Bible and open to the passage you can follow along or write the below outline to help remind you when you go through difficulties and also to HELP OTHERS…. in their time of difficulty…

1.TEMPORAL –

“For a little while” is one word in Greek and means “little amount, brief, short,” and it is only so, in light of eternity! Even though the trial was to last a life time,…they have an end, they are not permanent!! –{v6}.

2.“NECESSARY” –

The Greek word he uses means “to bind, tie things together, needful, necessary.” It is necessary for this to happen. The certainty He is using troubles to develop and Display genuine faith in the furnace of afflictions… Vance Havner said, “The grace, the groans and the glory are all part of the eternal purpose…”-(v6}.

3. PAINFUL-

The word, “Distress,” or “grievous” means “tearfully sorrowful…mental anguish.”-{v6}.

4. “VARIOUS”-

Not just one type, different types, “multi-colored.” The word is used twice In NT to speak of “trials..,” and in 4:10, “Grace…” Whatever the type of trial, there is GRACE to meet you for each one! No trial, trouble, can outdo the Grace of Almighty God! Think on that!-{v6}.

5. REVEALING –

The “proving,” It means Genuine…approval” of your “genuine” faith – is revealed… one way it is disclosed expressed, is through trials,…” you love Him, Trust Him, rejoice in Him,”{v8}…is what was being revealed in the midst of their sufferings! Genuine faith is more “precious than gold,” Because your faith is of eternal value! Trials, troubles, are opportunities… to reveal Genuine, authentic faith! -{v7}.

** In the furnace you are not burning BUT shinning! Good Job!

6. PROFITABLE –

That your genuine faith may ultimately be “…to the praise, glory, honor at the revealing of Christ.” –{v7,8}. How amazing that God is going to commend YOUR Genuine faith!

AND THE RESPONSE?

“Joy inexpressible!” in 1:3-5 Peter speaks of the future glory that is ahead and an inheritance reserved in heaven Kept by God that is reason to “In This you Greatly Rejoice,”-{v6}, which literally means “jump for joy!” Not even the trials, as painful as they were could deter this glorious future with Christ. Indeed, our future is Bright, our future is Christ! Sadness and Gladness exist side by side Peter shows us!

Though the trials were painful, they were not outside of God and His ability to take them and produce something good and profitable for the believers from them, and neither can your own pain, sufferings, keep Him from working them for good!-{Rom 8:28; 1 Pet 5:10}

Look again at the 6 ASPECTS and see God has purpose and is working out His purpose even through trials, sufferings…

“God often puts us in situations that are too much for us so that we will learn that no situation is too much for Him.”- {Erwin Lutzer}

Be a help to others in their times of trouble and be able to share from His Word so as to help not hurt those already in pain, as Peter did! 6 ASPECTS in Trials that we can know and be able to share in order to strengthen others in their time of pain that they may have hope in Him!🙂

“Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. Great faith must have great trials.” -Charles Spurgeon.

Hope this will encourage you to encourage others.

God Bless,

Aidan