Does Life Feel like a Constant Trial?
I’ve been reading 1 Peter lately, and I’m finding that this book is like a two-edged sword. It contains some really encouraging things, and it also contains some really challenging things. One of those challenging things is related to suffering. I was struck by this verse in 1 Peter 4:
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad…” (1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT)
This verse states something that is so counter intuitive; firstly, that we are to not just be unsurprised when we face tough times, but we are to expect it. On top of that, we are not just to expect it, but we are to be ‘very glad’ when it comes. Being ‘very glad’ refers to a greeting – particularly a warm greeting. Think about how you greet a close friend or family member. Generally they are not someone that you shy away from or show disappointment to see. That is exactly how we are called to respond to trials and suffering. We greet it with gladness, in the same way we would greet that close friend. If that isn’t challenging, then I don’t know what is!
But let’s unpack this a little further. The word for trials in this verse can be translated ‘calamity’, and ‘to be smelted’. What does smelting have to do with trials? Well, smelting is the process of heating up raw materials to extreme temperatures in order to burn away or separate the pure metal from all the other impure and worthless stuff. So, to extract materials like iron, copper, or zinc, the raw material dug up from the ground is heated up to remove the waste and leave the pure metal. To put it simply, smelting purifies.
No wonder this is referred to as a spiritual principle. The suffering in our lives, the trials and the challenges (which at times can be many), and the ridicule or persecution we might suffer for being a follower of Jesus are the things that create that uncomfortable heat in our lives. But, while hard, even at times to breaking point, they are used by Him to purify us and remove all that is not of Him, so that only what is of Him remains.
What also impacted me was that when I was thinking about this, I was reminded of what we use those purified materials for – we build things like tools, cars, technology, building materials amongst many other things. Without them, it’s hard to comprehend how different our lives really would be. I am typing this reflection on a device made from those very materials.
It's the same with our lives. The pure reflection of Jesus that is left when the trials of life ‘smelt’ away our impurities can then be used by him to bless many others through the new ways that we think, speak and act, which are directly shaped by these fiery difficultues. Because of this, we are challenged to willingly and joyfully greet these trials, knowing that they are used by Him to produce something pure in us.
Another reason why we are told to embrace the trials of life in this way is mentioned as this verse continues:
“Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” (1 Peter 4:13 NLT)
So, we can embrace suffering in our lives because it makes us partners with Jesus. The result of that partnership is we get to both see his glory and partner with him in receiving it too. You might be suffering right now and others might be witnessing you suffer, but one day those same people are going to witness you experiencing the joy of the glory of Jesus being revealed to the world, and you and I get to be a part of that. Once again, this is both encouraging and challenging – encouraging because of the promise available to us, and challenging because of the call to embrace something that is very difficult to do.
Why am I sharing this with you? I believe many are suffering at the moment, and there is a sense of weariness among many believers because of how hard the recent season or seasons have been. If that’s you, I want to encourage you, keep going, don’t give up, keep letting Him have His way in you, because we have much to celebrate in the midst of it. That doesn’t mean things are easy or will necessarily get easier (at least in this physical world), but it means we can have a never-ending hope.
And, if life is going well for you at the moment, I am glad for you, but I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it will change at some point, even in an instant, and it helps to be prepared so that He can continue to have His way in us when we go through these times.
May you hold onto this truth so that you are able to endure and not be discouraged in the fiery trials. And, if you are in the heat right now, I would love to pray with and for you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and share how I can do so.
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” (1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT)