“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.”
you have been grieved by various trials
The word “various” means variegated or multicolored. The difficulties we face have many hues and colors. Some are small, but others are king-size. In the New Testament, the word “various” in “various trials” is used only one other time, and that is in reference to trials as well – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2).
The Christian will face many kinds of trials. Peter again indicates that God’s grace manifests itself in various ways. “Various” is translated “manifold.” “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
God mixes the bitter and sweet. He is training us for glory. This is boot camp down here. We all face personal and family sorrow. We see the sorrow in our community and nation and world. Paul carried sorrow for the lost (Romans 9:2,4).
PRINCIPLE:
God mixes the bitter and the sweet to train us for glory.
APPLICATION:
Every Christian will face all sorts of trials–trials of faith, persistence, patience, loyalty. These trials will not necessarily come separately or successively. They can come all at once. They come from all angles. The piling up of these trials results in grief – personal heaviness.
This is the plan of God for our personal maturity.
