Praying that I Might Be Refined and Grow in Faith Through the Trials of Life

On Sunday, February 8, like many others, I watched the Super Bowl. I was rooting for the New England Patriots, having been born in Massachusetts. I was not, however, pulling against the Seattle Seahawks. The story of the Seahawk’s quarterback is a good one. On Sunday, Sam Darnold was completing his 8th year of playing in the National Football League. Darnold was drafted by the New York Jets as the third overall draft pick in 2018, and very highly regarded. But his performance was less than stellar for his first 2 teams. Then he went to a third team where he just sat on the bench. Before last year many considered Darnold to be a washout, a player who could have been good, but failed to live up to the hype. However, the last two years changed that story, and Sunday Darnold was interviewed as the winning quarterback of the Super Bowl champions. He was asked about the moment and he responded, “I think it’s all about my journey. The reason that I’m here is because of my journey, because of the ups and downs, especially the downs that I went through early on in my career. I learned so much about myself, about football.” (The Athletic, February 9, 2026) We are supposed to learn from our mistakes. It seems that Darnold did learn from his struggles.

The next morning, Monday, February 9, I was reading my devotional Bible. In my reading Moses had approached Pharoah, at the command of God, to ask Pharoah to let the Israelites go into the wilderness and worship. Pharoah responded angrily by increasing the demands of slavery on the Israelite people. They had to continue making bricks for Pharoah’s construction projects, only now they had to gather straw as well, and complete the same number of bricks. This caused suffering for the Israelites and led to people blaming others for their difficulties.

The Israelites blamed Moses for going to Pharoah as God had instructed. 21 . . . "The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." In return, Moses accused God, 22 . . . "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all." (Exodus 5:21-23)

However, through all of these trials, God was teaching a lesson. “ 1 But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land." (Exodus 6:1) In contrast to the seeming helplessness of God’s people, and in contrast to the tyranny of Pharoah, God is all-powerful. In love and in power God takes care of His people. The previous suffering of the Israelites made God’s deliverance even more of a lesson for them to learn.

Paul writes something similar about the trials of life, and the power and mercy of God. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, Paul shares, “8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” The sufferings which Paul and his companions faced seemed overwhelming. But God’s mercy and deliverance taught a lesson of faith. Do not trust yourself. TRUST GOD!

Peter describes our sufferings as a refining, or a testing. “6 In 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 your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7) Our trials and troubles can refine us as God’s people, and strengthen our faith. We are powerless. But God is powerful, and He is loving.

It is easy to complain about our troubles. The Israelites complained in Egypt. Moses complained to God. Last week my devotion could be seen as complaining that our nation does not have the same values as it did 60-70 years ago when I was a child. But God uses our mistakes, our trials, to teach us about His power and His love. God uses our suffering to refine and strengthen our faith.

Our Heavenly Father has a pattern of using the trials and defeats of life to show His love and power. The Son of God, Himself, suffered and died on a cross. Imagine! The author of life dying!! But then Jesus rose, overcoming the sin which causes death, and winning eternal life for God’s people. Paul also writes in 2 Corinthians, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

You would think a pastor should know this lesson. But we / I have to learn some lessons over and over again. Over 30 years ago a Lutheran Alaskan man named Glen Dobbe was in a horrible accident which left him a paraplegic. Glen had been a halibut fishing guide and an outdoorsman. Now he was in a wheelchair at the Morning Star Care facility in Palmer. Glen was discouraged. I visited and prayed with him and brought Glen communion. I had my boys come play chess with him. However, this formerly active man was still down. Finally, I asked Glen, “How can God use this time of trial to strengthen your faith? Instead of thinking about what you cannot do, what can you do?” The next year Glen won first place at the Alaska State Fair for a painting he had done. He told me he could see God’s goodness, even in his trials.

What troubles or trials are you facing right now? How might God be refining you, and strengthening you, so that your faith grows and shines through your difficulties, and you praise and witness to the Lord?