Testing of Faith
I actually have a few different sub-categories and reasons
to rejoice that can go under the “Rejoice Through the Struggle” title. To keep the blogs short, I’ll just make this
blog about one of those categories and save the others for another post. This one is about our faith being tested, and
how to respond. (Spoiler alert: respond
by rejoicing)
Faith is a word that gets tossed around in the church a
lot. Christians love to quote the Bible
verse about having faith as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). That’s easy to do when life is going
well. A good job, healthy family, and
food on the table give plenty of reason to praise God and have faith in Him.
But what about when life isn’t going so well? What about when your bank account is already
in the negative, your pantry is running low on food, your child has had a cough
for the past week and is now running a fever, and your position at work is in
the running for the next round of lay-offs?
Will you have faith then? The
Bible very clearly states that these seasons of life will happen, and even goes
as far as to say don’t let it surprise you when they do happen.
1 Peter 4:12 – “Beloved,
do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as
though something strange were happening to you.”
These seasons are not easy.
By that, I mean they’re extremely difficult and sometimes all you wanna
do is scream and cuss at God for letting all of this happen and then run as far
away from Him as possible. You feel like
He betrayed you, why would you want anything to do with Him? Next verse.
1 Peter 4:13 – “But
rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and
be glad when His glory is revealed.”
“But rejoice…” ?!?
Are you kidding me?? No, Peter’s not kidding. When you rejoice, you are showing God that
you still have faith in Him to pull you through this difficult season. When God sees your faith in these types of
moments, that’s when He can see that you are really in it for Him!
1 Peter 1:6,7 – “In
this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been
grieved by various trials, 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.”
I pray that my faith would be more precious than gold tested
by fire. I pray that my faith may result
in praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ.
And if you were to read on to verse 8, a “joy that is inexpressible” is mentioned. I want that.
I pray that I, and those around me, can experience that. How do we get there? By rejoicing through the struggle. Whatever your struggle is right now, give it
to God. Praise Him anyways, even though
it seems like your world is falling apart.
The struggle won't last forever, so while you're in the midst of it, show God that no matter what life throws at you, you still have faith!
