Using Our Trials For Good

I Peter 1:3-9

Have you ever had someone tell you that they have both good news, and then some not-so-good news for you?  We all like the good news.  Give us that!  They can keep the not-so-good news to themselves, we are thinking.  Good news that we have an inheritance is always received with joy.  Especially an inheritance that is safe and secure.  The news that we have to go through some heavy trials, some very difficult times is not something we want to hear.  This is the news that the Apostle Peter gives as he starts his epistle message today.  However, as Peter looks at it, and as he teaches us, it all can be good news for believers.  Let’s look and see what the Word of God can teach us.

As Peter opens his letter to fellow believers, he shares with us some good news.  One piece of good news is that because Jesus rose from the dead and is alive, we have a living hope (vs. 3).  All that God has promised to those who trust in Him is guaranteed.  Those promises are not something that can be lost, so our hope can be sure and steadfast.  Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that God will honor all of His promises.  The reason God provided us with so glorious a salvation is because He is a merciful God.  That is also good news, because we need His mercy since we are sinners.  Once we have taken Jesus as our Savior, we have the hope of eternal life.  We can have confident optimism in all God has promised us.  This knowledge, and that He is always with us, should keep us going, even in the worst of times.

We have a new life that begins when we are saved.  Our hope is guaranteed by Jesus’ resurrection.  We also have an inheritance that is incorruptible (vs. 4-5).  It cannot be destroyed or tainted, and it lasts forever, which is more good news for us.  It is kept secure in heaven, guaranteed by God.  Ft. Knox, where the U.S. stores its gold reserves, is one of the safest, most secure places on earth. Yet as safe as that is, our inheritance kept in heaven, is far more secure.  God is keeping our inheritance for us. He has supreme power, omniscient, omnipotent, and sovereign.  He will keep both our inheritance and us secure.  This inheritance will not pass away or decay, nor is it polluted or tainted with evil.  God has guaranteed this for us, and we can have confidence in Him based on the indestructible truth of God’s Word.

One thing that can be discouraging for believers, despite knowing that we have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, is the many trials we go through while here in this life (vs. 6).  The Bible makes it clear that troubles are inevitable for God’s children.  As His followers, we can expect difficulty.   Peter encourages us to look past all of our troubles, and on to our eternal inheritance.  Whatever trials we have to endure in this life, our souls cannot be harmed if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.  We know we will receive the promised rewards.  For this we can greatly rejoice, despite any trials or problems we go through.

Our trials can show just how genuine our faith is.  It is genuine if we come through the trial still trusting God (vs. 7).  How would we know that we can trust God if we’ve never experienced a situation where only He could help us?  Trials allow our faith to be refined by fire, just like gold.  God uses everything that touches our lives for our good and His glory.

Let’s lift our eyes to God instead of focusing on our troubles.  If our hope is only in this life, we will have despair.  God has ensured that our tribulations accomplish His purposes.  He is sovereign over every adversity.  God uses trials to strengthen our faith.  Going through suffering, and yet remaining true to Christ gives a testimony to others about salvation and the Lord Jesus.  Going through our trials clinging closely to Jesus will make our faith stronger.  God can turn what may seem like bad news into something positive for us.