Praised by God #4—Valued Trials

As you rejoice in your coming salvation, you will endure necessary but temporary trials, so that in the genuineness of your faith—which is far more valuable than fire-tested gold—you will find praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:5–7

Olympic gold medalists resemble the gold they pursue. Only those of us who have put our minds and bodies through rigorous training and testing will receive Olympic gold. Workout after workout; qualification trial after qualification trial; always proving the genuineness of our strength and skill; always seeking the praise, glory, and honor that accompany success. Joyfully anticipating the award carries us through the suffering of the preparation. But because the stability, security, and satisfaction inherent in the gold and the glory of athletic success are limited, so is the joy. Not so the joy that carries us through the trials we endure as we follow Jesus in the obedience of faith. Anticipation of our coming salvation inspires joy because we know how stable, secure, and satisfying it will be; our fellowship with God will be unhindered and unlimited. But the trials of our faith can make us happy, for the trials are not trivial. Just as difficult training and competition improve performance and prove proficiency, the adversities of discipleship demand our faithfulness and demonstrate our fortitude. The more aware we are that our faith is genuine, the happier we will be in the moment, and the more inspired our hope for the future will be. Jesus will lavishly reward our faithfulness with all the delightful affirmation we could ever desire because our faithfulness reflects his infinite value.

Faithful Lord, my eyes are on you as I vigorously and resolutely race toward the day of your glorious revelation.