“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12
When everything in life is going just like a person wants, he is happy and content. When things start to go bad and everything is falling apart, he then stands back surprised and wondering why everything is falling apart. People begin to question themselves, God and others when things go bad. Often they think that they are the only ones going through that struggle.
No one really likes it when things are not going the way they “should”, at least according to their plan of the way it should go. The world can think that way, since they do not have any thing greater to trust in.
Every believer must think again about being surprised at the struggles happening. Peter tells you that you are not alone in this. You are not the only one going through a fiery ordeal.
A fiery ordeal is something that is hot and painful. Being burned by fire is extremely painful. No one every wants this. Yet, it is common. God uses the fiery ordeals to test you.
When things are going good, it is easy to say that you trust in God and believe in Jesus. It is a much bigger challenge to still say you trust in God and believe in Jesus when everything is falling apart and you feel like you are being burned alive.
Jesus gave a promise that every believer would suffer just like He had to suffer. This suffering is to see where you really stand with God. It is to make you more like Jesus. It is to draw you closer to God. It is to help you be a witness of God’s great love and care for you.
As you go through a challenge in this life, rejoice. Rejoice knowing that God does really love you. Rejoice that God is right there with you. Know that God will bring you through it. And don’t be surprised at what is happening.
I pray today that God will reveal His plans for you in the challenges of your life; that you will keep your eyes focused on Jesus; that you will not be surprised at challenges God brings your way; and that God will make you more like Jesus everyday.
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