If you have kids, grandkids, nieces, or nephews in your life, you know the importance of monitoring a child's growth. Doctors monitor height, weight, and progression of growth and compare that growth to other children their age. Why do doctors do this? Because growth is so important. It is, in fact, vital. While kids constantly think about what they want to be when they grow up, doctors are concerned with their present growth. Physical, emotional, and academic growth, while vital, is not the only important growth. Spiritual growth is also critical. While we may want to rush to spiritual maturity, we cannot discount the importance of that growth. Scripture teaches that this growth often happens in difficult times where our faith is tested, and we are tempted to be fearful.
Peter wrote about the growth that happens during difficult times in the book of 1 Peter. Like James, the author of the book of James, Peter encouraged readers to "be truly glad" despite the trials and struggles that come our way. Peter wrote that trials prove the genuineness of our faith because, through them, our faith is "tested as fire tests and purifies gold" (verses 6-7). In other words, trials make us better and stronger, just like fire does for gold. It is true, regardless of the trials we face, if we lean into Christ, we will come through them purified, stronger, and closer to Him.
The same thing that was true for Peter in 1 Peter is true for you and me today. God will use our hardest, most difficult circumstances to draw us closer to Him. It may not be fun, but the growth that takes place during fearful times is vital. It shapes us into stronger people who are closer to God. Times of fear and uncertainty set our minds on the reality of heaven instead of things of earth. This is essential if we want to become more like Christ. May you and I always seek out growth in the midst of hard times, fear, and uncertainty.
God uses our storms and seasons where we are fearful to help us grow. Take some time to think about the times in your life when you experienced great strides of spiritual growth. Is there a correlation of that growth with the storms you faced? After thinking through and documenting these times of growth, thank God for the seasons of growth that you have seen in your life.
This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
May God give you more and more grace and peace.
The Hope of Eternal Life
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 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.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
