24 Karat Faith

“…though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that your faith…may be proved genuine…” 1 Peter 1:6-7

Trials are trying. And tiring. They bring pain. They bring grief. They often leave us wounded and wondering. But they are divinely allowed for a specific reason – To prove our faith. To prove our faith to God? Perhaps. As Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice Isaac, God stopped him and said, “Now I know (by experience) that you fear God…” (Genesis 22:12). But our all-knowing God doesn’t require a demanding event to reveal our trust to Him. He knows better than anyone if our faith is real and just how real it is.

That’s exactly why He allows the trials – to prove to us and to others that the genuine faith He knows is in our hearts can be actually lived out in our lives. “These (trials) have come so that your faith may be proved genuine…” Trials come to prove our faith in God – not just to prove our faith to God.

The “others” around you need to know that when circumstances heat up, faith in God is what helps you keep your cool. Peter reminds his friends that precious metals are refined in fire and implies that our current trials are the flames through which our faith will shine. Staying faithful in a storm says much more than you could ever shout during many days of sunshine. People who are wondering if God is real or if He can really be trusted will notice your authentic faith and your confident trust.

And you will notice it too. This might sound crazy, but God allows these trials to prove to us that our belief is more than just agreeing to a good idea. As God holds us and helps us through our many trials, we come to know (by experience) that He really is who He says He is and that He really will do what He said He would do! He graciously rewards our little trust with His big truth, which just turns around and helps our little trust grow into a bigger, stronger faith.

So, whether you are going through a trial, have just come through one, or are about to go into one, know this: You’re about to prove something to somebody!!

Stay strong in the suffering.
Keep believing during the bad.
Let genuine faith in our great God remind you and those around you that He truly is worth it all.



Time for a Little R&R

RECOGNIZE
What has your faith during trials proved to you about yourself? About God? About your faith?

RESPOND
Thank God that He is trustworthy. Ask Him to help your faith grow and to glow!