“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.” – 1 Peter 4:12-13
Well, we can’t say that we weren’t warned!!! Fiery trials are an expected part of the Christian life. There’s nothing enjoyable about them, but they are normal. Hard times will come upon us as we walk in faith. We shouldn’t seek them out, but we should know they will find us anyway. This makes complete sense – our Lord Jesus went through terrible trials. Why should His followers be exempt?
Scripture is consistent in teaching that we shouldn’t just grit our teeth, complain, and trudge through trials when they come. No, we’re told over and over again to rejoice during them! We are to rejoice during terrible tests of our faith and our faithfulness. We aren’t to rejoice because we like pain or because we’re supposed to pretend the trials don’t hurt. These trials hurt terribly!
We are to rejoice precisely because they hurt so bad! We are to rejoice because in the fiery trials we share in the sufferings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus endured every temptation and suffered terribly as He was betrayed, arrested, abandoned, humiliated, tortured, condemned, and brutally killed. Jesus suffered terribly as He endured God’s rightful wrath toward our sin on the cross.
As we suffer in Christ, we share in Christ’s suffering and it reminds us that we will also share in His glory. We will share in His resurrection. We will share in His eternal presence. We will share in His inheritance in heaven and the new earth. The fiery trials of our lives, when experienced in Christ, point us to the eternal joy, comfort, peace, and delight that lies ahead of everyone who believes in Jesus. Rejoice!