If Necessary...

There seems to be a common theme running through my conversations of late. Life is hard. Decisions are difficult. Relationships are strained. Perspectives are changing. Christians are in the heat of trials. Trials that have been promised to us...that should not come unexpectedly...but trials...nonetheless.

who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. I Peter 1:5-8

For a little while...if necessary...you have been distressed by trials. What makes a trial necessary? Why must we as believers...experience pain...loss...suffering...hardship...frustration...disappointment? What need in our life demands that we endure these trials?
Often times, the need comes when we have become too comfortable in our surroundings. When we have allowed our flesh to make it's home in this world and find comfort in this place. We lose sight of our eternal lodgings...and allow our citizenship to slip down into the temporal. We elevate our need for comfort...our need for stability...security. And we make that our aim...pursuing it at all costs.

Or perhaps, we have become too accustomed to relying on self. Independent. Self-sufficient. Self-reliant. We forget how frail we truly are...and how quickly a change of circumstances can rob us of what little control we thought we had over our lives.

Or it could simply be...a reminder. A remembering of our identity. Our purpose. Our calling. Our security. A reinforcing of the solidarity we have in Christ to prepare us for the mission He has predestined us to. A reminder to keep our focus on Him.

Whatever the case maybe...we know that these trials are custom...tailor-made by our Sovereign Creator. This is far different than experiencing the effects of a fallen world. No, this is an all sufficient, completely sovereign God...gently and lovingly calling us to the edge of what we deem comfortable...and propelling us across the threshold into hardship. Into the unknown. Where we cannot draw on past experience or previous knowledge. All of this comes from Him. Knowing all of our weaknesses. Knowing all of our insecurities  Knowing all of our vulnerabilities. These trials are not for others...but individual...some might empathize or understand what we experience. But these are singular by design. To draw out a singular focus. The proof of our faith.

Taking Peter as an example…he suffered immense persecution…to the point of death. This being the same man that denied Christ…now being martyred for his name’s sake. What happened in his life to make him so sure that his salvation was genuine? Worth dying for? From the time Peter watched the Savior ascend to the penning of this book…Peter had stormed quite a few trials. And he had come to learn that these very trials were given not to hurt him…not to push him further from the Lord…not to exasperate him…but to prove to him his faith. To prove that this faith is genuine. To quiet all the doubts that might be questioning the words he had heard His Savior speak. These trials…hand-crafted by his Lord…pushed him beyond his natural capabilities into the reality that God was protecting this faith. His mustard seed size faith…was being protected by Almighty God.

As we walk through trials...human faith...human reasoning begins to falter...melt away. We cannot answer the questions…we cannot explain the “whys”. So, we turn to the Author and Perfector of our faith and begin to experience a side of His character not yet seen. In comfort, there is no need for mercy and healing. In ease and prosperity there is no need for a Deliverer and Provider. But through these trials…our one-dimensional Savior becomes three-dimensional. His vastness exceeds our understanding. Then something incredible happens…in the midst of these trials…rather then doubt and disbelief…He allows us to see we need not worry about the safety of our faith. It is protected by the power of God. He is sustaining our faith. Everything shifts...we begin to see the assurance of our salvation...the reality of faith. Without hardships we would waver...question whether or not salvation has actually occurred.

In this we greatly rejoice. We rejoice because in His supreme sovereignty God found it necessary to reveal to us our pure faith. To remove the dross. Remove the impurities. Remove the distractions. He has intervened in our life to remind us that His power is sustaining our faith...He is protecting us...He has anchored our hope beyond the veil. We rejoice through these trials because having not seen Him...we come to know Him so much more intimately through the fire. And we rejoice with joy inexpressible because this trial has now prepared us for action...sobered our minds...and fixed our hope completely on the revelation of Christ.