Fiery Ordeal

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. – 1 Peter 4:12-13

Rejoice we are instructed!  Rejoice in the fiery ordeal or trial.  I know people who cringe and lament giving their tithe.  They can’t fathom giving above the measly 10% in however God might call.  Even though we are told that God loves a rejoicing giver.  And that is easy.  How much more difficult is it to rejoice in, not just a trial, but a “fiery” trial? 

The Message translation quotes these verses this way.  “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” 

Why must we endure such with rejoicing?  One reason is for our own refinement.  It is so that we might grow in our faith and character of God.  Another reason is for witness.  It is so that we might demonstrate to others what faith in and character of God are so that they might see and believe in Jesus as the Son of God and substitute for their sins, either freshly anew or in a new deeper way.  Yet, there is the single purpose of knowing we are in God’s purpose and giving God the glory for it.  1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” and Jesus instructed in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Suffering and enduring patiently through a fiery ordeal falls in that whatever you do category.  So, we are to rejoice and give God the glory for our pain, but more for His deliverance which our faith knows will come.

Hannah Whitall Smith wrote in 1866, “The Lord has been teaching me in many ways lately about my utter weakness in the presence of temptation.  … My own efforts have been worse than useless.  …  If I am to be sanctified, if I am to be preserved blameless and harmless, it must be by the power of God for my own efforts have utterly failed.  … I realize that Christ dwells in my heart by faith and that He is able and willing to subdue all things to Himself.” 

It is so easy to feel sorry for ourselves, our situation, and to be angry and bitter for it.  But we are taught that as followers of Christ we are not to yield to these temptations.  It is more than difficult to stand in pain, in a fiery ordeal or trial, and do it with a rejoicing heart giving God the glory for His yet unseen deliverance.  I dare say it to be impossible for man to do alone.  Yet God can do all things, if we will only believe.  Jesus came to glorify the Father and He did it.  If we then, yield our suffering to Christ asking Him to take our burden, to guide our actions and feelings, and to glorify the Father through us.  He has already proven He is more than capable to answer such a prayer request.