Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– John of Kronstadt
Faith
When we run into adversity, our faith can be tested, but a faith that’s never been tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. The Apostle Peter wrote if we’ve been grieved by various trials or adversities, it is “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1st Pet 3:7). Thank you adversities for allowing our faith to be tested to see the “genuineness of your faith.”
Trust
When we run into adversities, we are left with a choice; to run and hide or to trust God in this. If we trust God through these adversities, we can prove that our faith is strong. We don’t prove how strong or weak our faith is so that God will know because He already knows, but the testing of our faith or trust is so that we’ll know how strong or weak our faith is. Adversities can help us build our faith and strengthen our trust in God.
Love
Our love for God can be revealed by how much we go through and still not turn bitter. Job said, even “Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet” (John 13:15). What it looks like for us is we are able to praise God in the storm, even when we don’t see the end of it, our love for God will be revealed by our obedience to Him, even when things seem to be falling apart around us.
Conclusion
John of Kronstadt must have learned from experience that “Our faith, trust, and love are proved and revealed in adversities,” so our faith is tested by adversity to see if it’s genuine or real; our trust is tested by adversity to see if it’s the real thing, and our love for God is tested by our adversities to see if we’ll obey Him even when it seems there is no hope.
