Encouraging Words - Pt 6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 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. (1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV). The sixth encouraging word is that nothing is wasted in the will and purpose of God. The trials of life produce good in the hands of God. Just as a hammer and high heat are used to forge instruments of iron, God uses trials to develop genuine faith and strength of character in us. Jewelers use "the water test" as a means for identifying a true diamond. An imitation stone is never as brilliant as a genuine stone, but sometimes the difference cannot be determined with the naked eye. So jewelers immerse the stone in water. A genuine diamond continues to sparkle brilliantly while the sparkle of the imitation is virtually extinguished. By way of analogy, the faith of many people under the water of sorrow or affliction is nothing but an imitation. However, when a true child of God is immersed in a trial, he will shine as brilliantly as ever. Understandably, it is easier to trust God when things are going well. It is much more difficult to believe as God allows unfair trials of every kind to happen when he has the power to stop them. We have to ask how he can see the suffering of his people as he seemingly remains silent. But that is not the truth. He is not silent. He is not unmoved. He is not working to do and accomplish his good work in our lives. We can see this vividly as we look in the Old Testament to the trials of Job. He was a wealthy man with a wife, children and servants. He honored God with all he had and held nothing back from him. Yet God allowed Satan to attack Job and take his children, his wealth, his servants and his own health. Job was reduced to a painful existence living outside of his home since he was deemed unclean because of the infestation of boils that was afflicting his whole body. His own wife told him to “curse your God and die”. What did Job say to her remark? He answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”(cf. Job 2:10). He knew God was working in his life, whether with good things or difficult experiences, to accomplish his good work in him. If you’re in one of those difficult experiences, be encouraged. God is working something good in you!