Trials are a part of the Christian life. But some Christians expect life to be blissful, prosperous, and peaceful once they believe in Christ and receive assurance of salvation. But this sort of expectation by Christians is simply not consistent with Holy Scripture.
In 1 Peter 1:3-5 we are told that God causes us to be born again from a dead unregenerate spiritual existence through the resurrection of Jesus Christ unto salvation. The first phrase in verse 6 tells us that we should rejoice for it. Then the rest of this portion of Scripture proceeds to tell us that though we should rejoice for our salvation nevertheless God is going to test our faith by fire (v. 7).
Let me stop here to talk about “trial” versus “temptation.” The same word in Greek, peirasmos (pi-ras-mos’). is translated as “trial” (or test) and “temptation.” Peirasmos is translated in the positive sense as trial (or test) and in the negative sense as temptation. Let’s look at a simple way to distinguish between temptation and trial.
A temptation is a solicitation by our own fleshly nature or by the world or even by Satan to do evil. Temptation is designed to do us harm; it is designed to bring bad upon us. God will never tempt us (James 1:13).
A trial, on the other hand, is by God and is designed to bring out good in us. God uses trials in the Christian’s life to test the “genuineness of your faith “(v. 7).
You may have heard Christians say (and you may agree with them) “The Lord will never put on us more than we can bear.” Well, it is not biblical and it is not true. At least it is not true for trials and testing.
Paul informs us regarding temptation that “13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13). This Scripture points out to us that we are not tempted in any way that is not common to other people but we are assured that God will provide us with a way out; if we want out, there’s a way for us to get out through God. So, there is a way to escape from the burden of temptation. God always gives us an out regarding temptation.
But regarding testing and trials God never makes that promise to us. In fact, God will sometimes put a burden on us that is so great that it breaks us and causes us to turn to him and in the process be made more Christlike. As long as Christians are on this earth, they will not be perfected and therefore they can expect trials and tests by God throughout our lives. But in times of trial, don’t be disheartened because the Bible tells us that we should be joyful when God tests our faith (James 1:2-4). Peter tells us that though we may be grieved while undergoing the trials that test our faith by fire, nevertheless it will “result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7).
One other thing we should understand about trials is that the trials that God foreordains for us are always for the purpose of perfecting our faith. We should endure the trials. As James writes “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12).
We have many examples in the Bible and in Christian history where the fire actually destroys the person being tested who is then called home to God.
But generally, when God places burdens upon us, it burns away those things that are binding us and we are released from that trial, ready to take on the next one. For example, Daniel’s three Hebrew friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the Den of Lions. They all passed the test and were delivered from harm for it. When our faith is tested remember to seek refuge in the word of God. “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Ps. 18:2). “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” (Ps. 6
