Trials can create a tremendous intimacy. Many have experienced this in athletics or the military, as they have gone through both joys and difficulties with those around them. There is a deep intimacy created, which is often hard to replicate apart from the experience of trials. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God. Many Christians go through trials without joy, because they are not focusing on their loving relationship with Christ. In fact, they have lost their first love like the Ephesians. They have lost it, and instead, are loving other things more than Christ. They love work, friends, TV, hobbies, etc. If you have lost your first love, you cannot have joy in the midst of trials or in the midst of your service for Christ. It will become drudgery. When this happens, the secret is to refocus on your relationship with him.

One of the reasons why God allows trials in our lives as Christians is so that we can partake of Christ’s sufferings. In other words, since Christ went through trials, we should also expect to drink from the same cup. It is temporary, not just because of the fact that it will end in time, but it is a “little while” in comparison to the salvation and inheritance you will experience for eternity. That is the context in the previous verses (1 Pet 3-5). Paul said something similar in 2 Corinthians 4:17–18:And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” From this passage, we can infer that we shall experience trials time and again until the hour comes for us to depart from this world. Look at the example David gives us when fleeing from those who wanted to kill him. He shows us how to talk to God when we are overwhelmed. He pours out his complaints to God, and he finds comfort in knowing that God is directing his path. When we are walking through hardship, we can still be honoring God. When we direct our complaints to God instead of to all the people around us, we are showing God that we believe he is the only one who can help. Psalms of Confusion The moral will of God given to us in the Bible is rational and reasonable. The circumstances in which we must trust God often appear irrational and inexplicable. The law of God is readily recognized to be good for us, even when we don't want to obey it. The circumstances of our lives frequently appear to be dreadful and grim or perhaps even calamitous and tragic. Obeying God is worked out within well-defined boundaries of God's revealed will. Trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries. We do not know the extent, the duration, or the frequency of the painful, adverse circumstances in which we must frequently trust God. We are always coping with the unknown. Yet it is just as important to trust God as it is to obey Him. When we disobey God we defy His authority and despise His holiness. But when we fail to trust God we doubt His sovereignty and question His goodness."

Trials are the afflictions, tests, temptations, tribulations, or troubles that the LORD allows our way so that we may mature and become complete in our Christian walk. My calling to ministry was also marked by trials. After feeling impressed to go into ministry, I struggled with depression for over a year. But, during this depression God comforted me through his Word. I probably read through the Bible fifteen times in close to a year and a half. When people hear me preach, they will hear a strong emphasis on the importance of Scripture, the importance of daily meditation on the Word of God because that is the way God “comforted me” and I, therefore, comfort others the same way.

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This is a wonder. Typically, we honor those who are successful and do great things. This is common in the world. But look at Christianity—we honor and worship a man who died on a cross. This was something shameful in that culture. Who would honor a person who died in an electric chair? According to this passage, our partaking of Christ’s sufferings is accompanied by a promise of consolation at the appearing of our Lord. 2. God allows trials in our lives to manifest the life of Christ in our flesh Application Question: What things keep you from developing this eternal view point in the midst of your trials? How can we develop and sustain an eternal view point? Focus on God’s Sovereignty and Purpose in the Trial This book reminded me of so many things: God is sovereign, God loves me unconditionally, God is ALWAYS there even when I can't feel or sense him, God NEVER lies and on and on. I walked into this book,, bound but walked out of it, free.

In this you greatly rejoice, 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—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (emphasis mine) . Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God (emphasis mine). Now why would these trials be necessary for us? The fact that they are necessary means there is “intention” behind them. Let’s look at a couple of reasons why trials would be necessary. These are questions that I never gave much thought...until I found myself in the midst of my own tragic circumstances. It suddenly became a crucial issue in my life! There seemed to be only three clear choices: Using the scriptures, we are going to examine the reasons why God allows trials in our lives so that when they come, our response will be aligned with the scriptures. Examples of trials that Christians go throughThis scripture comforts us with the assurance that we can handle the temptations that come our way because God will always provide a way of escape. Conclusion Application Question: What are your thoughts about the concept of God being in control of every trial and him only allowing them if they are necessary? Focus on Your Faith

He wraps up by applying all we've seen of God's character personally: how we can know and experience God's love, and trust Him and be thankful, no matter our circumstances. At this point, we even forget God. We forget the battles He has won for us, the enemies He has subdued on our behalf, the dangers He has shielded us from, and the snares He has delivered us from, and before we know it, we start to slowly but surely drift away from His ways. Interpretation Question: Why would some trials be necessary and in what ways? 1. Some trials are necessary to turn us away from sin.Above all, we need to be very sensitive about instructing someone else in the sovereignty of God and encouraging that person to trust God when he or she is in the midst of adversity or pain. It is much easier to trust in the sovereignty of God when it is the other person who is hurting..." (p. 53) Training our hearts and minds with the Psalms gives us the perspective to be able to welcome trials with the open-armed joy that James talks about. The Psalms teach us how to live out our purpose to glorify God, even with our troubles. Through Sorrow to Praise And we are not just to endure the hardships, but actually rejoice in the very suffering we experience, knowing that through suffering hard things in this life, we taste a small portion of the bitter cup Jesus endured when he was hung on the cross for the sake of our sins. God is using this difficulty to shape us to be more like his Son. Be Prepared for Fiery Trials Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.