The reason I decided to look closely at another verse is because I think it is powerful when we realize that the same theme is repeated over and over by different people throughout the Bible.... not just briefly mentioned and then never brought up again. Did you ever notice the theme running through David’s writings? He painted a picture of utter trial and turmoil in his life, yet maintained an internal compass that pointed to God. Most of us tend to look for happiness based on external circumstances in our lives, but David discovered a deeper joy grounded within. Most of us strive for happiness that’s external and temporary, but David teaches us to move towards a place of deeper well-being, where we develop trust and hope in God that extends beyond our external realities.  In the New Testament, Jesus had much to say about inevitable trials and suffering in our lives and how we should approach them.... as did Paul, James and now Peter (among others).  This topic is taught over and over in the Scriptures, so to me that means it is important! Of course everything in the Bible is important.... but you know what I mean. 

“In this you great rejoice, though now for a little while you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not see you love.  Though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9

"In this you great rejoice, though now for a little while you have been grieved by various trials..." Peter teaches several important principles of trouble in this verse:

1. trouble does not last (a little while)
2. trouble serves a purpose (if need be)
3. trouble brings distress (you have been grieved)
4. trouble comes in various forms (various trials)
5. trouble should not diminish the Christian’s joy (greatly rejoice) 

This once again speaks of the kind of joy that comes from an unchanging, eternal relationship with God. Peter relates this joy to the assurance of one’s eternal inheritance and the assurance of one’s proven faith.  It is not dismissing the emotion of trials.  It is not saying that when trials come along, you shouldn't experience any sorrow or that you shouldn't be broken or wounded. Rather, its about viewing this trial through a different lens than the rest of the unbelieving world.  It's having a biblical view of your hardship in a way that doesn't allow you to conclude that the only result to what you can see and what you're going through is hopelessness and despair. Even though it hurts so bad, you can have joy (different than happiness) and hope in the midst of the pain because you know God is good and God is somehow working in your life for your benefit. God’s purpose in allowing trouble is to test the genuineness of one’s faith. The benefit of such testing or “fire” is for the Christian, not God. When a believer comes through a trial still trusting the Lord, he is assured that his faith is real.  

"...that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire...." After gold is mined, it is placed into a red hot furnace.  The purpose is not to destroy the gold; it is to purify the gold.  When the gold is melted, the dross (scum) is drawn off and you are left with pure gold.  When God tests us, He puts us into the furnace.  He does not do it to destroy or harm us, he does it to purify us.  That is what develops Christian character.  At the time of testing, the scum is drawn off and precious gold appears.  That’s God’s method. He is drawing us closer to Him.  There are no shortcuts to maturity.  The only thing that will bring us to true maturation is the trial of our faith which God sends us.  Trials do produce distress for a little while. They come like fire to burn off the dross. And that's the point. Not only do they reveal your faith, but they purify it. And what emerges is a faith that is more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire. When you get your faith tested, it comes out purer, more precious. And I will tell you, with that in your mind, you...instead of asking for God to protect you from trials, should ask Him to make sure He puts you through all the trials necessary to give you the confidence that your faith is real. Just think of the trials the apostles went through.  I mean Peter was facing crucifixion when he wrote these words for goodness sake!

"...may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...." The revelation of Jesus Christ refers to His second coming, when He comes to call and reward His redeemed people.  At that time He will be unveiled and every eye will see and every heart will know that He is God.  That is when our suffering will end and we will be taken to heaven where there will be no sin, no death, no trials.  Until then, we are protected by a living hope, divine power, trials and eternal purpose. Look at verse 7.  We are headed for something big... "to be found in praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Our faith is designed to survive to the end.  This is an amazing promise!We have a proven and tested faith that finds its fulfillment in the purpose and plan of God in the union with the Lord Jesus at His appearing, at which time we receive glory, praise and honor from God. Can you even imagine?  It goes right back to the reason we were saved in the beginning, we were chosen so that we would be brought to eternal glory.  We have a heavenly home. He's preparing a place for us. We're just passing through this world. We're not citizens here. 

"...whom having not see you love.  Though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls." We know this passage is talking to believers because you can’t love God without believing in Him. And only genuine faith causes one to love what he or she has not seen and enables one to rejoice through trials and ultimately receive the reward of salvation.  This goes against everything the world tells us.  If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, you have been given a faith that never perishes. You have been given a faith that is protected by the power of God, a faith that has a hope that never dies, a faith sustained by a divine power that can't be overthrown, a faith that is proven, tested, strengthened through trials, a faith that is designed for the fulfillment of eternal glory which was promised before the world began, a faith that contains within it an undying love for Christ. And the outcome of that faith will be the obtaining of the final salvation of your souls. Simply put, there is no escape from this reality. The result of this saving faith is your final salvation... and it will be yours because this faith will persevere and endure to the very end. That is the nature of this faith. It is nothing less than a permanent gift from God.  In one sense, Christians now possess the result of their faith, a constant deliverance from the power of sin and the gift of Holy Spirit as a "Helper" through this life. In another sense, we are waiting to receive the full salvation of eternal glory in the redemption of our bodies. In our day there is too much emphasis on the present life.  We are told that we must develop ourselves into whole individuals and if we are having trouble, something is wrong with our Christianity.  Instead of so much introspection we ought to be looking out towards our Great God and the marvelous inheritance He has waiting for us. We should stop this attempt of trying to improve our old nature through the power of the flesh. God is the only one in the business of improving us and His way of doing that is through various trials.  It is not at all popular to teach that God will grow and mature us through suffering, but it is true. We must remember that these trials are only temporary and always compare them in the light of eternity. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."  Romans 8:18

Up until this point, most of the past 3+ years of this trial have been spent wallowing in sadness and self pity.  I have tended to lean more towards feeling like God had abandoned me or was punishing me than to feel like He was working out something good in my life and strengthening my faith.  I have felt more doubt than trust, more anger than joy.  I gave in to worldly perspectives and the lies of the enemy.  I am so thankful God revealed this information to me when He did!   Although it has been right in front of me all along, my heart was not ready to receive it until now.  I do not feel like this infertility journey will suddenly be easy, but I do feel like I am finally able to see it with an eternal, godly perspective.  I am able to understand that God is doing something in and through me in the midst of this.  He is maturing me, sanctifying me and He is hopefully somehow being glorified.  He has allowed me to go through this because He loves me.  In my eyes, that is the true meaning of "tough love."  Although I can't believe I am able to even to say this, I am thankful for this trial of infertility.  Without this heartbreaking experience, where would I be?  Without all the sleepless nights and tears and time on my knees in prayer, would I know that His grace truly is sufficient?  Would I have come to this place where what I finally want more than to be a Mom is to be a genuine child of God? This place where I finally get that it is Him who fills all of my empty places that I had been trying to fill with a baby? If I had been blessed with a baby easily and without any suffering, would I realize what a gift I had been given?  Would I take him/her for granted?  If my life the past 3 years had been comfortable and easy and everything had gone my way, I just don't know that I would have understood how much I need Him every second of every day. I know He has something amazing for me on the other side of this trial and this life. For believers, there is always the crown that follows the cross.   And that gives me so much hope. That gives me true joy!  

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."  C.S. Lewis  

What is God shouting to you in the midst of your pain?  Please listen and let Him speak to your heart. You won't be sorry you did!  I pray that we will all learn to cling to God and His promises in our trials.  "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28