A New Level of Trust (1 Peter 1:6-9)

​A message from Pastor Phil:

Throughout this past week, I have been thinking of 1 Peter 1:6-9, which seems to fit us well as we have been so rapidly thrown into this pandemic with all of its health, social, and economic consequences:

​6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

This Scripture suggests how God uses the challenges of life to test our faith. God has always used hard times to strengthen a Christian’s faith. It has been part of the church since its beginning. Why is that? Trials force us to reflect, meditate, and pray through God’s promises. When life is easy, our faith can be shallow; trials take our faith to a new level of trust. It is easy to trust God when we are on the mountain and the blue sky is above us, but trusting God in a dark valley is completely different. In those valleys, often the only rest we have is our faith in a God who transcends all of the world’s events and even uses them for His purpose.

We all know that gold is put into fire to remove its impurities. Let’s allow this time of isolation to reflect on what God thinks is important in our life — to enjoy our family, encourage others, increase in our knowledge of Scripture, and ask God to grow our faith. If we determine to do this individually and as families, we will all be stronger in Him when we meet together again as a church family.