Rejoice in Your Trials

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Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-9 (ESV)

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Devotion:

            Today, we come to Peter’s explanation for trials in the life of the Christian, and what is the proper reaction to trials on the part of the believer. Peter begins by saying that the Christians should be rejoicing in their trials. He explains that these trials are needed in order to prove their faith genuine. All of verses six and seven are one long complex sentence. The various parts of this sentence work together to form a picture of the reason for a Christian’s joy when undergoing various trials.

            Verses eight and nine form another long sentence. The purpose of this sentence is to encourage us as believers to love and honor Jesus. Again, the theme of Joy is present. Finally, the outcome of our faith is named. The salvation of our souls if we believe in Jesus Christ. These words of Peter to us as Christians should be a great encouragement to us. We can truly rejoice when we meditate on the person and work of Jesus. Even though the world may not be as it should be yet, we can be filled with hope at what is to come.

            Most of us do not rejoice when we are undergoing trials of various kinds. It is hard when one is suffering a health or other crises in life to be truly joyful. However, Peter assures us in this passage that joy is the proper response to trials and suffering because Jesus has already triumphed over the worst of all trials, his death on the cross, and he will help us amid our trials.

Today, the culture is becoming increasingly hostile toward believers. Our faith is thought to be dangerous because we hold to our Christian values and teachings. We are called intolerant and much worse. We need to practice keeping joyful in all circumstances. We are to return love for hate. We are to genuinely love even the worst of our enemies because Jesus loved us when we were in deep rebellion against God ourselves. Let us lift our joyful praise to the Almighty God who will save us from all our trials if we trust in him:

Prayer:

            Lord, we thank you that we are guaranteed victory through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Thank you that even while we were still sinners you loved us enough to make the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. We worship you and give glory to your holy name. Help us to see our present difficulties in light of your eternal love knowing that you allow these tests to come to us in order to prove our faith. May we not fail the test! Thank you for the gift of your son’s death and resurrection. May God always be praised. Amen. 

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