Trials
It seems to me that God tries or tests not our weaknesses but our strengths, not our weak points but our strong points. Isn1 this reasonable? A teacher does not test his pupils until they have been instructed and have learned their lessons. The higher the education the more difficult the examination. The greater our strengths, the greater our trials along those lines may be. The trials we have are evidences that we are making progress, that we have advanced, that God sees in us something worthy of testing and proving. We read in Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take. When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
Fiery trials do not produce or create the “gold” in our characters. They simply remove the dross and purify and make manifest the golden traits that are already there, that have already been developed. As we read in 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor and glory.” Our trials should encourage and not discourage us.
How thankful we are that God’s testings are always just and reasonable, not beyond our ability. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
The Diaglott uses the word “trial” instead of “temptation” Strange to say, this text has been a source of great discouragement to some in the narrow way because it appears to say that there is a way to escape every temptation. If the Lord has provided a way of escape, surely the child of God will take it. Thus it appears to teach that we should be able to escape every temptation. Naturally, the one who has been tempted and has fallen under the temptation becomes discouraged. Satan, who engineered the temptation in the first place, now subtly suggests: “Did not the Lord promise a’way of escape? See, he failed you. You cannot rely on his promises.” Or Satan may suggest a variation of this: “The Lord has promised his children a way of escape. Since none was provided for you, you are obviously not a child of God.”
Let us, as Jesus did, dispose of Satan by citing scriptures. In this case the Diaglott rendition of the text reads: “No trial has assailed you, except what belongs to man; and God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tried beyond your ability; but with the trial, will also direct the issue, that you may be able to bear it.”
There we have it! “He will direct the issue. “ He will direct that the issue or result will be for our good. When we have failed under a temptation or trial – and which of us has not – and another set of similar circumstances occurs, we are instantly on our guard And this time we do not fail. With each victory we gain strength and assurance and maturity.
The experience of Peter provides a classic example of this principle. Just before his crucifixion Jesus knew that Satan was going to make an attempt against Simon Peter. Jesus warned Peter, saying, “Simon, Simon; behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” Then he reassured Peter, saying, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”
Notice here that Jesus did not pray that Peter would successfully resist Satan’s temptation or escape it. He knew that Peter would not resist but would fall under that temptation. He told him so, saying, “I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me” (Luke 22:31, 32, 34).
You would think that this forewarning would enable Peter to collect his thoughts, be on the alert, and steel himself with determination not to fail! But even this forewarning did not provide a “way of escape” for Peter. No “way of escape” was provided but the Lord did “direct the issue” Jesus knew that Peter’s failure would be extremely discouraging to one so fiercely loyal as he was; that he might lose faith in himself and thenceforth consider himself unfit to be a follower of the Master; that Satan would suggest these things to Peter’s mind and seek to sift him out. So Jesus prayed that his “faith fail not”
Jesus’ prayer was answered. Peter’s ignominious failure cut him to the heart. He wept bitterly. Then he felt very humble. He remembered his Master’s words: “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). The experience converted this impetuous, reckless and self-assured man into an apostle of meekness and quietness – a tower of strength to the early Church. When the time of martyrdom came for this rugged saint, it is said that he ran to meet his executioner as if, by this gesture, he might wipe out that act of cowardice so many years before when he ran away!
It was this same Peter who from his wealth of experience wrote to us, to you and to me: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” -1 Peter 4:12, 13
– Robert Seklemian