TRIALS ARE CHALLENGES THAT REVEAL AND REFINE OUR FAITH
HE SAID THIS TO TEST HIM, FOR HE HIMSELF KNEW WHAT HE WOULD DO. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” CRISES bring to light one thing – the evidence that disasters, calamities, and pandemics produce DIFFERENT OUTCOMES on various people. Some will FAIL, while others will PREVAIL. A city is PROVEN well prepared when disasters strike. A person’s stamina is ASCERTAINED when he catches a disease. A building’s integrity is DETERMINED when earthquakes come. A leader’s capability is eventually CERTIFIED when crises strike.
That is why TRIALS are essential. We try items before we buy. Students take examinations before qualifications. Driving exams are required before licenses are acquired. Applicants are evaluated before being selected. Why? So that we can VERIFY. TESTING through trials DO NOT MAKE YOU PASS OR FAIL. They simply REVEAL what is REAL. They uncover what is hidden and disclose the ACTUAL. That is why trials are crucial. Do not be surprised when God gives you a TEST.
PROVERBS 17:3
“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and THE LORD TESTS HEARTS.”
Without the tests, we will never discover the truth about ourselves. Job revealed that the painful trials he went through REVEALED to God what his heart is made of – strong, solid and sound as GOLD. Remaining FAITHFUL and TRUSTING in God even in the face of staggering crises.
JOB 23:10-11
“But He knows the way that I take; WHEN HE HAS TRIED ME, I SHALL COME OUT AS GOLD. My foot has held fast to His steps; I HAVE KEPT HIS WAY AND HAVE NOT TURNED ASIDE.”
Feeding thousands of people (25,000 in some estimates), is humanly impossible in such a desolate place at that late hour of the day. But the Lord Jesus was not expecting Philip to solve this tremendous PROBLEM. He placed the challenge to TEST him. God has a PLAN and a SOLUTION.
JOHN 6:6
“HE SAID THIS TO TEST HIM, for HE HIMSELF KNEW WHAT HE WOULD DO.”
Two things. It was A TRIAL FOR PHILIP. But it is also an OPPORTUNITY to DEMONSTRATE GOD’S WISDOM AND MIGHT. Philip, even while besides the Master of the universe, comprehends the problem only from a human point of view.
JOHN 6:7
Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”
Philip made calculations, counted their resources, weighed all the options. The problem was visibly and humanly insurmountable. Visibly. Humanly. He was accurate in evaluating this colossal problem from a human standpoint but failed miserably in seeing it from the God’s view. So, the Lord decided to give him a preview. Because he failed to see what was invisible, he failed to believe that God is INVINCIBLE. This test REVEALS the true character of his faith at that moment. Peter tells us why TRIALS are necessary:
1 PETER 1:6-7
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if NECESSARY, you have been grieved by various TRIALS, SO THAT THE TESTED GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH—more precious than GOLD that perishes though it is TESTED BY FIRE—MAY BE FOUND TO RESULT IN PRAISE AND GLORY AND HONOR AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.”
TRIALS are God’s REFINER’S FIRE. It REVEALS and it REFINES.
PSALM 66:10
“For you, O God, have TESTED US; you have TRIED US as silver is tried.”
ISAIAH 48:10
“Behold, I have REFINED you, but not as silver; I HAVE TRIED YOU IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION.”
No. God would never allow us to be afflicted to destroy us. Never. But He will authorize a seemingly unworkable challenge to prove our faith and show us that He is trustworthy and capable.
MATTHEW 14:19-20
“Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking THE FIVE LOAVES AND THE TWO FISH, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. AND THEY ALL ATE AND WERE SATISFIED.”
Our WEAKNESS will always be GOD’S STRENGTH. Our INADEQUACY will always be God’s SUFFICIENCY. We are tested so that our needs are eventually SATISFIED and God’s Name, GLORIFIED.
1 PETER 4:16
“Yet if anyone SUFFERS as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but LET HIM GLORIFY GOD in that name.”
The truth is, when the fiery fire of life’s problems overwhelms us, we are being PURIFIED, POLISHED and PROMOTED. Like few pieces of bread and fish transformed to a great blessing for the multitudes. Oh, the joy of having our character flourish and develop is soul-satisfying and inspiring. It gives us marvelous HOPE.
ROMANS 5:3-4
“More than that, we REJOICE in our SUFFERINGS, knowing that SUFFERING PRODUCES ENDURANCE, and ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER, and CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE”
Followers of Jesus, when God places you in the “wilderness” where resources are inadequate and needs are innumerable, you are being REFINED. It is for your own good and for His glory.
May you sincerely pray the psalmist appeal:
“PROVE ME, O Lord, and TRY ME; TEST my heart and my mind.” (Psalm 26:2)
My brethren let us come out of this ordeal with a faith of gold.