The Imperative to Know

You remember we said that the Christian’s response to trials was supposed to be that of joy.

This was the attitude of the apostles in Acts 5:41

Then indeed they departed from the presence of the sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed for His name.

This was also Paul’s attitude when he wrote to the Romans 5:3 and Philippians 2:17-18

but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience,

And the early Christians were encouraged by the Apostle Peter in his first letter; 1 Peter 1:6-8; 4:12-14

Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you, 13 but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ's suffering, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you. Truly according to them, He is blasphemed, but according to you He is glorified.

So the first step to turning trials into triumph is to immediately thank God and adopt a joyful attitude!

“But how is it possible to rejoice in the middle of a mess of trials?”

The second imperative in verse 3 explains how.

Remember, as redundant as it may seem, an imperative is a very important necessity. I know you probably don't need a vocabulary lesson, but I'll add that an imperative usually requires a response or some action to be taken.

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (1:3)

Concerning the value of trials, having the right information or knowledge makes it possible to have a joyful attitude.

Our heavenly Father wants us to understand that trials test our faith. This is not temptation in the sense of enticement or inducement to do something wrong. This is a trial or a testing that is directed towards a positive end. God has a purpose. Trials and struggles are a means to an end. The end being that the one being tested or tried will emerge stronger and purer from the testing.

Trials are not a temptation or seduction into sin. Rather it is a strengthening and purifying of the one facing the trial.

The young bird is said to test his wings. He leaves the nest and learns to fly on wings that have never flown.

The Queen of Sheba came to test the wisdom of Solomon. She was impressed – I Kings 10. Hmmm, impressing the Queen. That's a good thing.

God tested Abraham, when He asked him to sacrifice Isaac – Genesis 22:1.

When Israel came into the Promised Land, God did not remove the people that were already there. He left them so that Israel might be tested in the struggle against them – Judges 2:22, 3:1, 4. The experiences in the land of Canaan – Israel – were tests that went to the making of the people of Israel – Deuteronomy 4:34; 7:19.

The follower of Jesus must expect to be run into trials on the Christian way. All kinds of experiences will come to us. There will be the tests that are sorrows and disappointments will be attempts to take away our faith. The tests we face are not to make us fall and fail. They are to make us stronger and more resilient in Christ. Faith tested can bring out the best in us, just as fire purifies gold – 1 Peter 1:7

so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Just as training makes the athlete stronger

Trials are not meant to make us weaker, they are designed to make us stronger. When we know and understand this, we will not complain about our trials, we will rejoice in them.

When we have this understanding, we can have joy in trials because we know that:

Testing works for us, not against us; read 2 Corinthians 4:17

For the lightness of our present affliction works out for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory, 18 we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.

Trials rightly used help us to mature

There is a result to testing that is good for us and not bad.

James describes this process of testing with a word that describes the minting of sterling coinage. This is a pure metal coin from which all alloys have been removed.

If we meet this test in the proper way, it will produce in us steadfastness – unswerving constancy – which is also translated patience.

We will continue talking about patience in our next writing.