The Fiery Trial That Tries Us

A homeschooling friend who I meet with on a regular basis contacted me recently and said she couldn’t meet this week because she busted up her knee and was confined to her couch. We haven’t been able to meet for a few months, due to either her misfortunes, or mine.

“What’s with us?” we asked. “Why all the troubles piling in?”

Then I wondered why we, as Christians, wondered. Seems someone is always asking why. Why me? Why now? Why so many trials? Why this trial?

Or more specifically …

Why did God allow my child to die? Why did I get in a car wreck? Why don’t we make enough money to pay the bills? Why did Junior fall and crack his nose? Why can’t my kids be like so and so’s holy and upright kids? Why must I continually give myself away as a Mom and (seemingly) never receive anything in return? ‘Bout time someone rose up and called me blessed, no?

I Peter 4 talks about how we should not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us, as though some strange thing happened to us. Instead we are to rejoice, to the extent that we partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, we may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Those verses don’t give specific answers to our why’s. But they do tell us that the fact that we have trials is not odd. The Christian life, contrary to much of the rhetoric we hear today about rights and how we all deserve happiness (whatever that looks like to us), health, and wealth, is not about an easy breezy life. It’s about taking up our cross and following Christ. It’s about a guarantee that suffering will come. And it’s about glorifying Him in the midst of that suffering.

The Christian life is counter cultural. It’s difficult, heart wrenching at times, and sometimes consists of trials so fiery we wonder if we will be able to withstand the heat. But as the age old hymn How Firm A Foundation says ….

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design 
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Our suffering is not for naught. Though it seems heavy, it’s light. Though it seems endless, it’s momentary. Though it seems meaningless, it’s not. It’s weighty, yes. But not in the way we think. It is, as Paul says, preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. (2 Cor. 4:17-18)

We don’t search out trials or hope they come our way, just so we can receive a weightier glory in heaven. But if they do find us, we are not to be surprised or think it strange, and we are comforted in the midst of them by His all sufficient grace and presence. Though we may experience a full gamut of emotions when trials and suffering come, ultimately, the most proper response I can think of would be to say “Thy will be done, on earth, even as it is in heaven.” And an added, humble “Lord, please be a light unto my path” wouldn’t hurt, as trials often require us to make difficult decisions.

I am grateful He doesn’t place us in the fiery trial, then leave us stranded without hope or help. He never leaves or forsakes us. Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death (or even just motherhood or illness or anything less serious than death), we will fear no evil, for He is with us; His rod and His staff, they comfort us. 

Cheer up, my sisters, live in the sunshine. We’ll understand it, all by and by.