The Trials of Your Faith

First Peter, chapter number four. The title of this morning’s message is called the trials of your faith.

Scripture Reference

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

Introduction

The Christian life includes seasons of blessing and seasons of trial. Dr. Terry LeQuieu preached from First Peter and Jeremiah to help us see that trials are neither meaningless nor unusual; they are part of God’s refining, instructive work. Using the image of gold in the refiner’s fire and a potter shaping clay, the sermon points us toward two central truths: God is actively working in our trials, and our response matters. This message aims to encourage young adults and all church members to face trials with biblical hope, to stay in the hand of the Potter, and to let God sanctify faith into a lasting testimony.

Look at all he’s done. It’s a great reminder. Grab your Bibles. Go to one Peter with me, if you would.

Quote from Preacher

This opening quote invites every listener to open Scripture and reminds us the sermon is rooted in the Word.

Outline

Context and Compassion: Who Peter Wrote To
1. Audience Identified
  Peter wrote to Christians scattered across provinces—people experiencing persecution, displacement, and suffering. Understanding context helps us see the letter is pastoral, practical, and meant to encourage believers under pressure.
2. Why That Matters to Us
  We are not unique in trials; the Church has always faced seasons of hardship. Recognizing that others have and do suffer keeps us humble and connects us to the wider body of Christ.
Definition and Design: What Is a Trial?
1. Trial Defined
  A trial is a suffering that tests strength, patience, and faith. It exposes whether our trust is in ourselves or in God.
2. Double Duty: Trial’s Purposes
  Trials test faith and produce spiritual growth. They reveal weaknesses and teach reliance upon God’s Word and prayer. Instead of only being painful, they are instructional valleys where spiritual character forms.
Perspective and Praise: How to View Suffering
1. Do Not Think It Strange
  Peter tells believers not to be surprised—trials are a normal part of following Christ. The “woe-is-me” mindset isolates and magnifies suffering; Scripture reframes suffering as expected and purposeful.
2. Rejoice in Partaking with Christ
  Rather than whining, we are to rejoice because we share in Christ’s sufferings. That fellowship with Jesus draws us nearer and deepens dependence on Him.
3. Spirit and Glory in the Trial
  When reproached for Christ’s name, the Spirit of glory rests on us. God’s presence transforms suffering into witness: onlookers may speak evil, but God is glorified through faithful believers.
Refining Faith: The Fire and the Gold
1. Faith More Precious than Gold
  1 Peter 1:6–7 teaches that the trial of faith is more precious than perishable wealth; being tested in the fire refines and purifies our faith, producing praise, honor, and glory at Christ’s appearing.
2. The Refiner Watches Through the Fire
  God does not abandon us in the flames. He watches through the “peephole” and pulls us out when He sees His reflection—His image—clearer in our lives. Trials have limits set by a sovereign, loving God.
3. Outcomes: Testimony and Trust
  Passing through trials gives us stories—testimonies to build others’ faith and honor God. The refined faith becomes a living sermon others can follow.
Lessons from the Potter: Jeremiah’s Image Applied
1. Clay in the Potter’s Hand
  Jeremiah 18 shows the potter remaking marred vessels. Even when we are marred, we remain in God’s hand as long as we stay on the wheel. He reshapes our lives for His purposes.
2. Hurt Happens in the Potter’s Hand—So Does Healing
  Often people leave the church after being hurt, but the place of hurt is also where healing occurs. Staying in God’s will keeps us in the place where restoration is possible.
3. Surrender of Will
  The clay did not tell the potter what to make. Christian maturity includes submitting our will to God’s will. When surrendered, God often blesses us richly—sometimes even in ways we desired but could not create on our own.
Seasons and Submission
1. Ecclesiastes: There Is a Season
  Trials are for a season. They are purposeful and temporary under heaven’s timeline. This truth gives hope: the heaviness is not permanent.
2. If Need Be: Necessary Trials
  Some trials are necessary—”if need be”—because our faith needs the test. Resist bitterness; embrace the shaping work for eternal results.
Response and Result
1. Rejoice, Pray, and Search the Word
  Proper responses during trials: increased prayer, deeper Bible reading, active dependence. Valley experiences are instructional—apply what God teaches you there.
2. Stay in the Church Family
  Isolation is dangerous. God uses the body of Christ to bear burdens (Galatians 6). Fellowship refreshes and strengthens during trials.
3. Let Your Light Shine
  Brokenness can expose God’s glory. As the vessel is broken, the light within is revealed to the lost and to the saved. God can use your broken story to save and encourage others.

Summary

Dr. Terry LeQuieu reminds us that trials are not strange or purposeless. God uses fiery trials to refine faith and the Potter uses marred clay to fashion vessels for His glory. The proper Christian response is not despair but rejoicing—rejoicing that we share in Christ’s sufferings, rejoicing that God is at work, rejoicing that trials are for a season and produce a purified, trustworthy faith. Stay in the hand of the Potter, remain in God’s family, and let your trials become testimony.

When you go through the trials of life, God doesn’t forget about us in the trial. Rather, God is watching us during the trial.

Quote to Ponder

Let this quotation remind you that God is not absent in pain—He is present and purposeful.

Application for the Week

Take these practical, actionable steps this week to cooperate with the Potter and allow your faith to be refined.

Daily Bible and Prayer Routine
Commit to 15–30 minutes each day in Scripture and prayer. Use 1 Peter chapters 1–4 and Jeremiah 18 as focus passages. Journal what God shows you about His purpose in your trial.
Reframe Your Trial
Each morning, replace one “woe-is-me” thought with a thanksgiving: name one thing God has done for you. Rejoice that God is working, even now.
Stay in Church Fellowship
Attend the next corporate worship service and one small group or Bible study this week. Tell a trusted brother or sister specifically what you’re facing and invite them to pray for you.
Check Your Attitude Under Fire
When a trial triggers complaint or bitterness, pause and ask: Is my reaction drawing me toward or away from God? Confess that attitude and choose to trust and obey instead.
Offer Your Story
Begin compiling a short testimony—what God has done in your life, even in small things. If you’re already through a trial, commit to sharing that testimony with someone younger in the faith within the next 30 days.
Surrender the Will
Pray this simple prayer daily: “Lord, I yield my will to Yours. Mold me. Use my life for Your glory.” Be ready to obey small steps God prompts this week.
Practical Help
If you are unsure about your salvation, or you sense God calling you to surrender life to Christ, speak with an altar worker or a pastor after the service. Make your decision concrete—pray with someone and commit to follow Jesus.

May the Lord give you grace to rejoice in the refining, courage to stay in His hands, and faith that is tested and found to be His praise and glory at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.