Bring on the bad times

Scripture I'm Reflecting on:  1 Peter 1:7
     "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. . . .So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

Reflection:
Peter mentions the trials and tribulations that we will face numerous times in his Bible writings.  We face these trials every day.  Little ones, such as a bad day at work, argument with someone, bad grade, or our car won't start.  Some of us have had to face big ones, health issues, family troubles, or financial woes.  We react in different ways to these circumstances.  Sadness.  Anger.  Depression.  These reactions are certainly natural, and will happen to all of us at some point or the other, even if just for a short moment.  But what we cannot do, is lose faith in these situations.

It's certainly easy to do.  Someone that watches a loved one battling a horrible disease has an excuse to have doubts in their faith.  Someone who loses their business and finances has an excuse to question if God is watching over them.  Someone who runs into traffic and misses an important interview has an excuse to think God is working against them.  The #1 answer you are likely to receive if you ask an athiest why they do not believe in God is "if there is a God, why is there suffering, pain, poverty, hunger, on and on".  I can't say I never had similar thoughts in my younger days.  So what is the answer to this question?  Why would God create cancer?  Why do corrupt and immoral people continue to reap rewards, while good people are battling poverty and hunger?  Peter provides the answer to these questions...

God is looking to find out who's faith is truly genuine.  I've said it before in past blogs....if all Christians  were rewarded with good health, riches, and happiness, then everyone would be a Christian.  Some for moral reasons, others simply for the rewards.  There would be no way to distinguish between who's faith was truly genuine.  But by providing us with trials and hardships, God is able to see who's faith is truly genuine.  I have tried to use this verse to look at bad days, traffic jams, encounters with an unpleasnt person, bad service, or health problems as opportunities  Opportunities to show off to God.  Opportunities to prove to God, and myself, that my faith is genuine.

Peter says when we have strong faith through trials, it will bring us praise, glory and honor in front of Jesus.  Is there anything better than that?  No matter how bad things are, no matter how down we get, if we can remember this simple verse, then we will know exactly how to cope with the situation.

Final Thought:
We will not find the ultimate reward in this lifetime.  The ultimate reward comes upon Jesus' return.  But we can only obtain that reward through genuine faith.  And Peter has told us exactly how to show that.....by showing our faith during the down times, during the trials and tribulations.  This is one of those verses to read when youre feeling down, or when you feel like you were disrespected, slighted, or wronged.  It serves as a great reminder to keep our faith, and will ultimately help us to deal with these down times in a healthier and happier fashion, all while pleasing God by maintaining our genuine faith.