As we see in 1 Peter 1:6, Peter made it clear to these suffering believers that even as they grieved now (in their present existence), it was only for a little while compared to the glorious eternity awaiting them. My friend, We can apply this to our lives today - remember this life is only temporary - what we are going through here is only for a little while. We live in a world of trials and temptation. In addition, the believer has to bear the added trial of persecution because of his testimony for Christ.
So we ask, why does God allow Christians to go through trials? Why can't God shield us from trials once we are saved? Ever notice that it is through those trials that your faith grows. It is when trials come that we go to our knees praying and asking for God to help. When life is going smooth, how many times do you get on your knees? It is through those trials that we trust God to meet all our needs that we see that God is in control.
We must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. Trials teach us patience (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3) and help us grow to be the kind of people God wants. Verse seven compares the genuineness of your faith with gold tested by fire. As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. Steel is tempered or strengthened by heating it in fire. Likewise, our trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen our faith, making us useful to God. It may take the "fire" of trials, struggles, and persecutions to remove impurities and defects. God values a fire-tested (or "stress-tested") faith. All of us have faith that may be mixed with improper attitudes or sinful motivations (sometimes even the good we do is for selfish reasons).
In the crucible of life, God our Goldsmith skims off our impurities. Through trials, God burns away our self-reliance and self-serving attitudes, so that our genuineness reflects his glory and brings praise to him.
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