Trusting God Through Life’s Trials and Testing

Devotional

Day 1: Expect Trials as a Normal Part of the Christian Life

Followers of Jesus should not be surprised when trials, hardships, or suffering come their way. In a world that often opposes God and His people, adversity is not a strange occurrence but rather something to be expected. Recognizing this truth prepares believers to face difficulties with faith rather than confusion or resentment, understanding that such experiences are part of the journey of faith and not a sign of God’s absence or displeasure. [43:03]

1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Reflection: When was the last time you were caught off guard by a hardship? How might your response change if you began to expect trials as a normal part of following Jesus?

Day 2: God Uses Trials to Test and Refine Our Faith

Trials serve a greater purpose in the life of a believer by testing the reality and purity of faith. Just as gold is refined by fire, so too are believers refined through adversity, which reveals the genuineness of their trust in God and burns away impurities. This process, though painful, is never wasted; God uses it to strengthen and purify faith, making it more precious and enduring. [55:16]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.

Reflection: Can you identify a recent trial that revealed something new about your faith? What “impurities” might God be refining in you right now?

Day 3: God Is Ahead of Every Trial and Never Wastes Our Pain

No matter the source of a trial—whether from living in a fallen world, spiritual attack, consequences of sin, or God’s loving discipline—God is sovereign over it and can use it for His purposes. For those who trust Him, pain is never wasted; God is able to bring growth, maturity, and even blessing out of the most difficult circumstances, even when we cannot see or understand His plan in the moment. [50:10]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Think of a painful experience in your life—how might God be using or have used that pain for a greater purpose, even if you don’t fully understand it yet?

Day 4: Faith Grows Stronger Through Adversity

Each trial a believer endures is an opportunity for faith to grow stronger and deeper. As one faces hardship and chooses to trust God, the experience builds spiritual resilience and prepares the believer for future challenges. Over time, this process equips followers of Jesus to face adversity with greater confidence, knowing that God is faithful and that their faith is being made more steadfast. [01:02:24]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Reflection: What is one way your faith has grown stronger because of a past trial? How can you use that growth to encourage someone else facing hardship today?

Day 5: God Is Glorified When We Trust Him in Our Trials

When believers respond to suffering and adversity with faith, trust, and a willingness to let God accomplish His purposes, God is glorified. The world may not understand such a response, but it is a powerful testimony to the reality of God’s presence and power. Choosing to glorify God in the midst of trials not only strengthens personal faith but also points others to the hope found in Christ. [01:03:42]

1 Peter 4:16, 19 (ESV)
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name… Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Reflection: In what specific way can you choose to glorify God in the midst of your current struggle or challenge?

Sermon Summary

This past week has been full of reminders that life is unpredictable and often challenging. From the cold snap in Orlando to the attempted rocket launches, and even the end of the penny’s era, we see that change and difficulty are constants in our world. The 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a poignant illustration of how storms—literal and figurative—can come upon us suddenly and with great force. Just as that ship faced the “witch of November,” each of us faces storms in our lives, and none of us are exempt from hardship.

There are four main reasons why trials come into our lives: the brokenness of a sin-cursed world, direct attacks from the enemy, consequences of our own sinful choices, and as intentional tools in the hands of a loving Father for our growth and development. While it’s natural to wonder why we face adversity, the more important question is how we respond when it comes. First Peter 4:12-19 gives us guidance for these moments, reminding us not to be surprised by fiery ordeals, but to expect them as part of the Christian journey.

Peter wrote to believers who were about to face even more severe persecution under Nero, and his words still ring true for us today. In a world that is often hostile to righteousness, it would be strange if those who honor God did not face trials. The testing of our faith is not a sign of God’s absence, but rather an opportunity for our faith to be proven genuine and purified, much like gold refined by fire. God never wastes our pain; He uses it to reveal the authenticity of our faith and to burn away what does not belong in our lives.

The story of Gene, who found deeper intimacy with God through his battle with cancer, is a powerful testimony to the refining work God does in our trials. Though the pain is real and the process is hard, God is always ahead of our circumstances, using them to strengthen our faith and prepare us for what lies ahead. The first step, then, is to expect trials—not with dread, but with the confidence that God is at work, even when we cannot see it. In doing so, we are better equipped for the next storm, and God is glorified in our response.

Key Takeaways

1. Expect Trials as a Certainty of Life Trials are not an anomaly but a certainty for everyone, especially for those who seek to honor Christ. Rather than being caught off guard, we are called to anticipate adversity as part of living in a broken world and following Jesus. This expectation prepares our hearts and minds, allowing us to respond with faith rather than surprise or resentment. [43:03]
2. God Never Wastes Our Pain Every hardship, regardless of its origin, is an opportunity for God to accomplish His purposes in us. Our pain is never meaningless; God uses it to test the reality and purity of our faith, shaping us into the likeness of Christ. Even when we cannot see the outcome, we can trust that God is ahead of our circumstances, working for our good and His glory. [48:53]
3. Trials Reveal and Refine Our Faith Adversity exposes the true condition of our faith, showing us whether we truly trust God or only do so when life is easy. Like gold refined by fire, our faith is purified through trials, burning away impurities and making us more valuable in God’s sight. This refining process is difficult, but it is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. [55:54]
4. Intimacy with God Grows in Suffering Often, it is in the midst of our deepest pain that we experience the greatest closeness with God. As seen in Jean’s testimony, suffering can open our hearts to the Spirit and make God’s Word come alive in new ways. While we would not choose these hardships, they can become the very means by which we encounter God’s presence and power most profoundly. [60:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:16] - Reflections on the Week
[29:54] - The Cooperative Program and Giving
[31:06] - Rockets, Pennies, and Change
[33:07] - The Edmund Fitzgerald: Storms of Life
[34:29] - Why Do We Face Trials?
[35:46] - Four Reasons for Hardship
[37:51] - The More Important Question: Our Response
[39:09] - 1 Peter 4:12-19: Facing Suffering
[43:03] - Expecting Trials, Not Surprised
[45:02] - Persecution in Peter’s Day and Ours
[48:53] - God’s Purposes in Our Pain
[55:54] - Refining Faith Through Adversity
[59:40] - Jean’s Testimony: Blessing in Suffering
[63:42] - Trials Prepare Us for the Future
[64:20] - Prayer and Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 4:12-19 (ESV) — 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV) — 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.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 4:12, what attitude does Peter say believers should have when facing “fiery trials”?
What are the four reasons for trials in our lives that the sermon mentioned? ([35:46])
In 1 Peter 4:13-14, what does Peter say is the blessing or result of sharing in Christ’s sufferings?
How does Peter describe the purpose of trials in 1 Peter 1:6-7?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “God never wastes our pain.” What does it mean for God to use our pain for His purposes, even when we don’t understand it? ([48:53])
Why do you think Peter tells believers not to be surprised by suffering, but instead to expect it? How does this change the way we view hardship? ([43:03])
The story of Jean was shared as an example of faith refined through suffering. What does his experience teach us about intimacy with God during trials? ([01:00:19])
According to the sermon, how can trials reveal the true condition of our faith? ([51:28])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “Trials are not an anomaly but a certainty for everyone, especially for those who seek to honor Christ.” Can you think of a recent trial in your life? How did you respond—were you surprised, frustrated, or did you expect it as part of following Jesus? ([43:03])
When you face hardship, do you tend to focus more on the “why” or on “how” you will respond? How might shifting your focus to your response change your experience of trials? ([37:51])
The sermon mentioned that God uses trials to “burn away what does not belong in our lives.” Is there something in your life right now that you sense God is trying to refine or remove through a difficult situation? ([55:54])
Jean’s testimony was that cancer brought him closer to God and made God’s Word come alive. Have you ever experienced a time when suffering led you to a deeper relationship with God? What did that look like for you? ([01:00:19])
The pastor said, “Your pain is never wasted.” How does this truth affect the way you view past or current suffering? Is there a painful experience you can now see God using for good? ([48:53])
Peter encourages believers to “entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19). What does it look like for you to trust God and keep doing good in the middle of a trial?
The sermon said that expecting trials prepares us for the next storm and brings glory to God in our response. What is one practical way you can prepare your heart and mind for future adversity? ([43:03])

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