Life is unpredictable. One moment we’re standing in the sun, and the next we’re trying to make sense of a storm. Whether it’s a diagnosis we didn’t expect, a job loss we didn’t plan, or a season of waiting that feels like it’s never going to end—life’s circumstances can leave us disoriented. But as followers of Jesus, we are not without hope. In 1 Peter 1:6–7, the Apostle reminds us that even our trials are refining us, shaping our faith into something that brings praise, glory, and honor to Christ.
What Does It Mean to Have an Appointment with God?
Peter’s words teach us that trials aren’t interruptions to God’s plan—they are the plan.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”– 1 Peter 4:12
Every moment of difficulty is an appointment with God. It’s not random. It’s not a mistake. You are not lost in the shuffle of life—you are exactly where the sovereign hand of God has placed you.
This requires:
- Surrendering control to God – It’s the same kind of surrender Jesus modeled in Gethsemane when He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
- Understanding that nothing of faith feels completely safe – God doesn’t call us to comfort; He calls us to trust.
- Trusting without needing explanation – Faith flourishes not when we understand, but when we obey.
- Recognizing that our appointment may be unique to us – Just because others aren’t going through the same thing doesn’t mean your pain is less valid or your faith is weaker. God customizes our sanctification.
How Can We Rest in God’s Keeping?
The early church understood something we often forget: God’s keeping isn’t the absence of hardship—it’s the assurance of His presence within it.
“Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – 1 Peter 1:5
To rest in His keeping is to believe:
- God has not forsaken us – Even when prayers feel unanswered, He is near.
- His power is greater than our pain – Our circumstances may feel overwhelming, but they are never overpowering to Him.
- He promises to never leave us – Hebrews 13:5 says He will never leave nor forsake you. That promise holds even in the darkest night.
- We are comforted by His presence – Sometimes, what we need most is not rescue but reassurance—and God gives us both.
What Does It Mean to Be Under God’s Training?
Just like a loving father trains his child, God uses life’s challenges to shape us into the image of Christ.
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…” – 1 Peter 1:6
This kind of training:
- Often comes without notice – God doesn’t give us a syllabus. He teaches through moments.
- Is lifelong – There’s no “graduating” from spiritual formation.
- Happens in sovereign timing – Think of Joseph’s pit, Moses’s desert, David’s cave—God trains in secret before He promotes in public.
- Reveals our gifts in due time – You may not yet see the fruit of what God is doing, but nothing is wasted in His kingdom.
Why is God’s Timing Important?
We live in an “on-demand” culture, but God’s kingdom runs on a different clock. Trusting His timing is one of the greatest marks of mature faith.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” – 1 Peter 5:6
Here’s what we must remember:
- God sets the schedule – Your season isn’t random. It’s divinely timed.
- Waiting is normal – Abraham waited. Hannah waited. Jesus waited. You’re not alone in this.
- Our times are in His hands – Psalm 31:15 declares it plainly. We aren’t just trusting God with our eternity—we’re trusting Him with Tuesday morning.
- His timing is perfect – What feels like a delay is often God’s protection or preparation.
Life Application: Questions to Consider This Week
- What circumstances are you currently facing that feel out of your control?
- Are you tempted to shortcut or escape the training process God has you in?
- What would it look like to surrender your timeline to the Lord?
- How might God be growing you in this season, not just getting you through it?
Your Weekly Challenge
This week, take these four challenges to heart:
- Accept your current season as an appointment with God. Don’t just ask “Why me?”—ask “What now, Lord?”
- Release your grip and rest in His keeping. You are not holding your life together. He is.
- Embrace the training process. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen in ease—it happens in obedience.
- Trust His timing. Even when it feels late, God is never behind schedule.
Final Reflection
The trial you’re in today may be the training ground for the testimony you’ll share tomorrow. God wastes nothing. He’s not just working to get you out of the fire—He’s working to refine you through it.
So lean in. Don’t rush. Don’t run.
Trust the process. Trust the One who appointed it.
