Singing - not in the bathtub, but in the mire

That title got ya, huh? (Grin)
Do you ever sing in the tub? Or the shower? Kinda fun, isn't it? And it's hard to be sad when you're singing....
When we left our studies last time, Paul and Silas were in prison -- they'd been beaten for witnessing about Jesus, and then left in a musty, filthy prison for the night.....and they were singing!

David sang, too, to the Lord, and not just when he was rejoicing. He sang when he was blue; I kinda think that with the Lord helping him, and the songs too, that soon he was singing and rejoicing. Even in the muck and the mire.

And those are good examples for all of us. Are we in the midst of trials? Are we suffering with stress? Are we distressed because we are being ridiculed or reviled for our faith? Here is our focus passage again:

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. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (I Peter 1:6-9)

We're examining this concept of rejoicing in our trials.... let's look at the "why" because sometimes even veteran believers look around and whisper, "Why me, Lord?"

Stop the presses.
The Savior takes everyone that He loves through trials.
Wait, if He loves me, why does He do that?
That's our human side talking, no?
Let's look at some verses that should be very precious to us....
Remember this one about our Lord?

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Later in Hebrews, it talks about us:

"because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? (Hebrews 12:6-7)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (I Peter 4:12)

No one is exempt....while we are here as travelers, there are going to be trials, and even persecution for the sake of our Lord. But there are untold blessings, as well. Remember what Jesus told us in John 10? He gives us a truly abundant life. Many times, instead of stacks of gold coins, the abundance is the deep, peaceful joy that we feel, even in the miry clay -- the joy of our salvation.

But we haven't fully answered that plaintive question -- "why?"
In verse seven, Paul says that it's so our faith can be tested and refined; all the impurities will be removed, so that the final product (like the refined gold) is stronger. We can't be saved without faith. We can't buy it with gold. That is why Peter says faith is more precious than gold. Only our faith in Jesus will make the difference when we stand before God the Father.
God doesn't test our faith in order to make us fail. He does it in order for us to succeed. When we go through trials, we have to trust Him in ways that we never would, if all were sunshine and rainbows!

Peter gives us another clue about trials and the testing of our faith: it's temporary! He says "for a little while." And even though we may have been stressed about an issue for years, in the comparison with eternity, those years are just "a little while."

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (II Corinthians 4:17)

So, if in the midst of our pain (which we don't cover up or deny) we can keep our focus on two facts, we can have joy -- these trials strengthen our faith, and they are just temporary; salvation is for eternity!
One more thing can help us sing while in the miry clay: all of these trials are under God's control. He hasn't forgotten us. He hasn't gone on vacation. He hasn't even drowsed off to sleep. He knows what we are dealing with, and He has a plan to help us through.

...according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  (Ephesians 1:11b)

We'll finish up this study tomorrow -- hope you will join us!