The Word of Thankfulness – Growing Faith Through Trials

The Word of Thankfulness – Growing Faith Through Trials

1 Peter 1:6–7

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Matthew Henry was a great preacher nearly 300 years ago. One day he was robbed. Here’s what he wrote about that harrowing experience:

“Let me be thankful, first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed.”

Now ask yourself this:“Do I have the spiritual maturity to write a four-point prayer of thanksgiving to God because someone mugged me and took everything I own?”

I didn’t think so. Neither do I.

There is work to be done in me—and I suspect you have some to do as well. We still have a long way to go on our spiritual journeys before we can genuinely thank God for something like that. But that is the goal, isn’t it? Jesus Himself blessed the very people who killed Him, because He saw the good that would come from His suffering. Peter puts it this way:

1 Peter 2:21–23

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, … and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”

With models like Jesus and Matthew Henry, we know what spiritual maturity should look like in each of us. Looking like Jesus is our goal.

Let’s begin this Thanksgiving by learning how to thank God properly—for the good and the bad. Both are at work in us, shaping and molding us into the people God desires us to be.

Prayer:

Thank You, God, for You have made me who I am. And while I am not the man I want to be, I am no longer the man I was. Continue Your work in me—growing me into the man of God You designed me to be. Amen.