“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”-{1 Peter 1:6-8}

Trials have a Divine Purpose in your life!

At times it may seem your trials, suffering are meant to destroy you, demoralize you and fill you with hopelessness and anxiety fueled moments, hours days and even nights, restless sleep. “But God,..,” has a purpose and it is not to destroy you but in part to develop you and display Himself to you and through you!

For example in 1 Peter 1:6, Peter speaks about  the suffering they are encountering,  the “fiery trials,” and reveals that they  show your faith is genuine, and proves so, by the way you respond… despite the severity, variety of them you are not destroyed you are still standing and manifesting 3 expressions of genuine faith, namely, you continually love Him, you continually trust Him, you continually rejoice, delight in Him!-{v8}. This is what your life has revealed. No, it is not speaking of perfection of performance but a new affection and direction your life is taking. It does not play down, discard or make light of the reality of the pain of suffering, the intensity, longevity, variety of your trials but it highlights amidst the flames as the three Hebrew youths stood in the fire and a fourth was seen in there with them, so you are standing and He stands with you in the flames of the trial and others see Him in your life, but you also see that your faith is the real deal and also you rejoice not only from the passage of a proven faith, but the promise of a future reward!  Verse 7 says, “…the proof of your faith…may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” God is going to PRAISE YOU…HONOR….YOUR faith!

  • “Now just a technicality in this verse, the word “that” at the beginning of verse 7, “hina” with a subjective in the Greek indicates purpose.  And what he is saying here is that the proof of your faith – and then he describes the faith as more precious – but it is the faith which will be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

 

  • So it’s not only the joy of proven faith, but it is the joy of anticipated reward.  The proving of faith is not here the main thought.  The proving of faith is not the purpose. The proving of faith is the means to the purpose, the means to the end, the means to the goal, and the goal is praise, and glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.That’s the goal, your eternal reward. 

 

  • So, you greatly rejoice because of your eternal salvation.  You greatly rejoice through all the troubles and trials of life, which are simply ways to prove your faith because a proven faith will ultimately be an honored faith.  And true faith will come through it all, and in the end praise, and honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

  • Now I don’t want to blow your spiritual fuses, but I want you to understand something here.  The praise, and the glory, and the honor, I believe, has to to do with you.  It has to do with you.  In other words, God wants to grant you praise, and God wants to grant you glory, and God wants to grant you honor.  It doesn’t say here that it will result in us praising, glorifying, and honoring Him, but that we may be found because of our faith worthy of praise, worthy of glory, worthy of honor when Jesus comes. 
  •  That’s incredible to think about.  I mean, to imagine that we will someday see the Lord and receive from Him praise is incredible, incredible. Look at 1 Peter 2:20.  In the middle of the verse, “If when you do what is right – ” you see it there?  “If when you do what is right and suffer for it patiently and endure it, this finds – ” what? “ – favor with God.”  Isn’t it wonderful to know that you can have favor with God?  That you can please God? ‘”-{John Mac Arthur}

We read in Romans 2:29 these words,”But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”

God will commend your faith, Paul noted this when he said, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.“-{1 Corinthians 4:5}. So you can look forward not only to being with Him but receiving from Him praise!!!

You choose Joy in the greatness of God and His Salvation to us- 1:3-9

You choose Joy, in an Eternal Inheritance- that is Protected by God- 1:4-5

You choose Joy in a Faith that has been Tested and Found Genuine – v 7

You choose Joy in a Promise of a Future Reward – v 7

To choose joy means you and I have to THINK RIGHT! So, we think on truth, about Him and what He says about our suffering, trials, and His Promises and purposes in them. And so we have to choose to be renewing our mind to align our thinking up with Him as revealed in His Word. -{Read Romans 12:2}. What we choose to continually think on will strengthen our faith in Him when it is His Word and the Holy Spirit will testify to truth and help us renew, change, redirect the way we view life from God’s perspective, to influence our decision making!

The pain of suffering is real, Peter says in 1;6 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,” You rejoice because you know trials are temporal, they are for “a little while,” even if that is a lifetime here, compared to eternity it is such a short time, again not that your pain is insignificant but in comparison to eternity, it is not where you will end up, it does not have the final say, the LORD does, and He promises you a future Home “with Him.”-{Read John 14:1-6} and the word in 1 Peter 1:6 “distressed,” speaks of  “mental anguish,” real suffering of pain yet it is temporal not permanent, that is good news, that is GOD’S News! It does come to an end and this cannot take your joy from you. YOU CAN ONLY GIVE YOUR JOY AWAY BY CHOICE, no one or nothing can take it from you! We often give it away by choice to others, unfavorable circumstances, we need not. How do we not do so? We learn from what it took the last time we chose to do so. We learn to THINK on Truth about our trials, His Person, His Provision, His Promises! And one glorious promise is the future reward that is coming your way as a result of His promise due to the way you have handled the trials and suffering you have encountered… He will Praise You! “Well done good and faithful servant!” -{Matthew 25:23}. Faithful to the LORD in your trials and suffering to continue to love, trust rejoice in Him!-{Read1 Peter 1:8}.

To think on truth transforms our minds, giving Godly perspective and with application influencing choices and conduct in alignment with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit. – {Read Philippians 2:13 nlt}

Think on this; Your suffering, trials, are a means to display to you that your faith is genuine! That God will HONOR YOU for your faith! How about that, God will HONOR your faith! You have a Future Reward awaiting you from God! You can rejoice in Him and that promise! Your suffering is not in vain!

In God’s economy your suffering shows a Present Reality- YOUR faith is Genuine.

And a Future Reality- He will praise, honor you! Think on that!