Thoughts on Trials from 1 Peter 5:10

I wanted to share some things from a sermon I heard about trials. The sermon was titled “In the Fire, In His Hands” and it was about 1 Peter 5:10:
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

The minister said that we live in a broken world, but as Christians we have God’s resources to sustain us through the trials that will come our way. So the first thing we should do is go to His Word, not the world.

Trials may come as temptations or persecutions. They may be the devil attacking… but whatever they are the first thing we need to do is shrink our suffering. This means, put it in perspective. When we put God next to our problem – the problem shrinks! The minister said we cannot and should not make a big deal about physical suffering. We shouldn’t focus on the pain. This life is not about the setbacks or the challenges we face, but about our glorifying God. Paul called his many trials “momentary, light afflictions in light of eternity!”

The minister also said that believers actually get more trials than non-believers because we are trying to do what’s right.

Secondly we need to remember our Redeemer. God’s grace comes to us through our understanding of who He is. In this verse we are told that God has called us into His eternal glory through Jesus Christ. Also in the verse, God of all grace comes first in the sentence because it’s most important. Then that you will suffer a little while and then that He will restore you. Our trials are always sandwiched between God and His work!

And third. We triumph through His toil. The verse says He will perfect, confirm and establish us in some translations and in this one He will make us strong, firm and steadfast. Trials are meant to prepare us for our future. They complete us, perfect us, train us. They bring us down to earth and closer to God because we start depending on Him.

The key to triumphing over our trials is our attitude! Don’t become bitter. Don’t blame God. Trials mostly come into the world through the sin of man. Accept God’s help. Don’t try to handle it on your own. God comes to the rescue of His humble servants. Always turn first to His Word to be revived.