⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:6-7

 

Today I am going to take advantage of the trials I face. The big ones, and the small ones. To prove my faith to be genuine, at first seems competitive and proud, because that’s our normal defensive stance against anonymity and worthlessness in the world. But Peter is speaking of a different kind of proof. This kind results in glory, praise and honor for Jesus. By carefully guarding my reactions and responses I am glorifying God. I do not make him love me more, but through his mercy he has given me the power to make him smile.