“…brothers and sisters, whenever trouble…comes your way, consider it an opportunity for joy. For…when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” – James 1:2-3 (NLT)
The above Scripture admonishes us to count it all joy when we experience trials. How do we demonstrate this when joy is typically the last thing one feels? Note, however, the verse does not tell us to ‘feel joy’ but to “consider it an opportunity for joy.” In other words, count it as joy because of what God is doing through it, knowing that He’s still in charge.
According to 1st Peter 1:7, trials reveal the genuineness of our faith. We learn whether our faith is genuine or corrupt, valuable or worthless. This verse doesn’t say the genuineness of our faith is precious like gold, but rather “more precious.”
Why would Scripture describe our faith as having such value? Because we’re saved by grace through faith. Without faith, we have no salvation. It is actually our faith that becomes our righteousness. As we put our faith in Christ, then His righteousness is imputed to us (Romans 4:3). Genesis 15:6 states that Abraham believed God, and it (his faith) was counted to him as righteousness.
If our faith is more precious than precious metals, then what can we expect? God is going to test our faith to determine its genuineness. So, we must expect testing and even welcome it in our Christian lives. We may have been grieved by various trials (1st Peter 1:6), yet after enduring and remaining strong in the Lord, it will bring us much praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:7).
How is God going to test or prove our faith? He is not going to use the scratch test or pour acid on it. In Isaiah 48:10, we are reminded that God will refine us in the furnace of suffering/affliction.
Our faith is not like some cold, dead metal, brethren; it is significantly more valuable, and, as such, just as gold must be tested to know its value, God applies trials to our faith to show that we are genuine Christians.
Let us embrace trials as means of developing perseverance, leading to maturity and completeness in Christ.
Read: Deuteronomy 8:2-5; 2 Corinthians 13:5
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 37:32-40; Luke 6:37-49; Luke 7:1-10; Numbers 22:21-41; Numbers 23:1-26