Living Peaceably

Read Genesis 22:1

Why would God put Abraham to the test? Has he not already suffered enough loss? But he receives a most precious reward at the end of it all.

Genesis 22:12 (ESV)
12 “Now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

He has been put to the test and the genuineness of his heart and his faith have been revealed, he does truly fear the Lord. This could only be truly discovered through trials, under pressure. Just as all things must be tested and put under pressure to show their genuineness.

1 Peter talks about how our faith is shown to be genuine, and that it is a gift more precious than gold or silver, why is that? Well you see our hearts and minds are naturally deceptive, we fall for the illusions of the devils even still as Christians, so how are we to grow in assurance of our faith, that it is true and not false. When it is put under pressure.

You see when things get hard, when our beliefs are really pushed and must result in acting in faith upon our beliefs, that is when it is shown to be genuine. It is a great and marvelous gift that many young christians have a strong sense of their salvation and the work of God in their life.

Without it many of them would overcome with fear and anxiety if God removed that protection from them too soon. But in time he must remove it from them, so that they may truly discover the genuineness of their faith. Trials are some of the most precious gifts from God, because they are the evidence of the spirit's work in our life. 

The point of trials is not to say “Oh wow I am really a strong person now” the point is you can see how God kept you and sustained you through those trials, and therefore your comfort and assurance is that if God is working in you, he doesn’t begin things and leave them unfinished he will complete the work he has begun in you. (Phillipians 1:6)

God tested Abraham that he might have assurance that God is working in him, and will never forsake him. So all our trials come to us for the same reason, that we would know God truly is working in us, and that we are being held in his hands.

Questions:

What has often been your thoughts as you went through trials and struggles in life, with respect to God and your relationship with him?

What might help you to continue to trust in God in the midst of trials?