(Read 1 Peter:1)
Describing my friend (J) as passionate about fishing would be an understatement of epic proportions. Most of his wardrobe is either oriented towards fishing and a small percentage Dallas Cowboys mixed in (yuck). Given the chance, he would probably choose fishing over a family wedding or his favorite meal. (J) fishes with live bait, which is more waiting than anything else. “I fish with both,” he said. He’s always telling me about lures like buzz bait, jerk bait, and plastics, but when we’re together, he’ll usually end up with a worm on his hook.
I try to fish with him as often as possible. I caught up with him a few weeks ago to ask him more about his story. I asked (J) if he feels stronger when he relies on God when facing a problem. Without hesitation, he replied, “Yeah, I know this is a cliche, but I feel closer to God when I’m struggling, and then I lean on God’s word, quotes, and stuff.”
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.
1 Peter 1:7
In this verse, the apostle Peter is addressing Christians who are going through various trials and difficulties. He explains that these trials serve a purpose in their faith journey. Peter is referring to the trials and challenges that the believers are facing. He knows that they have experienced difficulties that ultimately test the authenticity and sincerity of their faith. The challenges they face provide an opportunity for their faith to be demonstrated and proven. Peter pointed out in his letter that the ultimate outcome of tested and proven faith is that it will bring praise, glory, and honor to Jesus Christ. Jesus recognizes and celebrates our faithfulness in the midst of trials.
Pastor of Harvest Church Greg Laurie wrote, “The Bible tells us that we should rejoice in our sufferings. This doesn’t mean that we should enjoy our sufferings, but it does mean that we should not let them defeat us. We should see our sufferings as an opportunity to grow in our faith and to draw closer to God.”
(J) lives most of his life in a wheelchair as a result of a disorder affecting his ability to control his muscles, posture, and walk. Despite having more things to complain about than most people in the world, (J) is an incredibly happy and joyous individual, making him one of the happiest souls you will ever encounter. “Believe me, I have plenty of days when I feel frustrated, but I have never questioned God about my condition and I don’t blame God for this,” he continued. Trials are a natural part of life. They are not a sign that God is angry with us or that He doesn’t love us. They are simply a part of the path that God has set for us.
“Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you”
Jeremiah 1:5
(J) occasionally shares with me his unfulfilled desires, but never do they stem from a place of disbelief. He knows that he is who God made him to be, not anyone else. (J) can no more complete the plan that God has made for me than I can complete the plan He set out for him. (J) is probably the most righteous, authentic, and unique person I’ve ever known. Another friend says that he kind of has his own mission. He brings so much love and light to our world.
Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us that God knew and loved us, even before we were born. He has a plan for our lives, and He will be with us every step of the way. God is sovereign over all things, including His purpose for our lives. He has created us with certain gifts and talents, and He wants us to use them to serve Him.
“I also have people I can lean on,” he continued. His relationship with Jesus has been ingrained in his heart for most of his life. He is who he is because of God, and he is where he is in life because of his long held faith. “To tell you the truth, I don’t remember feeling that different after accepting Jesus Christ, because it was so long ago.”
He told me that he feels moved to do things for God. He’s an unofficial greeter at our church, and I’ve heard that he’s one of the highest fundraisers for his employer’s charity. “I felt a strong need to raise as much money as I can for St. Jude, which is a Children’s Cancer Hospital; it’s a great cause.”
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light.”
Luke 11:33
God’s plans for (J) began to crystallize when he was in youth camp. He didn’t say it, but I could see the spark that it provided for him. “I wanted to be a youth leader and work with teenagers and my youth pastor got me singing in the chorus. I then met a person who told me that he wanted to take me fishing. I was like, okay, but I didn’t think much of it. So he found a spot and we went fishing. All right, I thought!”
“Do you feel a presence of God when you fish?” I asked.
“Sometimes, I think this is actually the first sport I can actually do in a wheelchair, which is pretty cool. And I’ve made some good friends because of it. It’s like when I’m having a tough day or tough week, sometimes I just want to get away and fish and forget about everything.” The coolest part about fishing with (J) is that when we do, time stands still. It’s just two guys, or more, enjoying conversation and water. We talk about heavy and trivial things. There are times when I’m fishing by myself and while relaxing, I feel like I’m killing time. Not so with (J), it’s a highlight — for him and for me.
(J) knows more about fishing than I know about all of my hobbies combined. Fishing is more than something to do. So much more. “So I guess fishing is a way for me to get away. I can think about it, think about life and stuff and just unplug,” he added.
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Job 23:10
Job expressed his confidence in God’s knowledge and understanding of his situation. Job acknowledged that God has full knowledge of his circumstances and the path he is walking. The way (J) lives his life can be best described by the declaration of Job: “I will come forth as gold.” (J) is confident that God is intimately acquainted with his journey and that the testing he endures will ultimately lead to a golden outcome.
“Some of my friends graduated from high school and did nothing about their faith afterwards. I didn’t want to be one of those people,” he said. (J) has been with the same employer for more than 11 years and he’s always keeping his eyes open for opportunities in an industry more near and dear to his heart. (J) is one of those people who in public doesn’t share a lot, but when he does, it’s always a profound statement. Our small group loves it every time he opens up because his ministry is teaching us something new.
God knows the way(s) that we take and He knows the trials ahead of us. It’s His intention to draw closer to Him when we’re at our lowest. Do we feel better when times are easy or when we need a helping hand? (J) answered this question with a powerful story. “While in a choir rehearsal one day, my wheel got caught on the stage and I nearly took a dive.” Had he gone over the edge in his wheelchair, he would have suffered serious physical harm and probably ended up in the ER. “It hit me later,” he told me. “A few classes later, I was like ‘Oh wow.’ I must have been pretty shook up, because a teacher gave me a needed hug.” After our fishing session two weeks ago, he called me to add that ever since then, he felt like he was caught in Jesus’ arms.
I wonder if the reason he likes fishing so much is that each time is a new adventure. Even though he changes his mind on the right rod, rig, and technique, with each cast there’s always hope in the experience and his choices. “I have hope that there’s a better place for everybody. There’s going to be a place where there’s gonna be no issues. No issues,” he repeated.
(J) makes people happy but he is not a people pleaser. He loves people but doesn’t seek their approval. He’s too confident for that. If you truly want to see joy, don’t look for a great deal, or look to buy it, you can’t. When tested, we feel joy but not enjoyment. Look at someone who has strong faith and you will find someone who has been refined and tested.
“There are no perfect men in this world, only perfect intentions.”
— Pen Densham
Key Applications
- Recognize that trials can have a purpose in strengthening your faith. Rather than being discouraged or giving up, strive to endure with hope and trust in God’s faithfulness. How do you endure? Pray, read God’s word, talk with another believer.
- Don’t compare the genuineness of faith to the preciousness of gold. Allow this perspective to shape your priorities and actions. Treasure your faith above every worldly thing, recognizing that it is eternally significant.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.