Experience! This is quite a popular word these days in the world of computers, cars, sports, and other things. With God, it already existed a long time ago. As part of God’s school, experience can be paraphrased as the ability of passing a process of being tested, with the objective of passing the test—and, I might add, getting out of it stronger than before. This specific word “experience” occurs seven times in the New Testament. Though translated in various ways, it indicates the experience of one who has passed a test, or who is passing through it. James 1:3 uses a closely related word, which only occurs there and in 1 Peter 1:7, as the act or means of testing, trial, or proving.
Ultimately, these tests result in spiritual growth, thus strengthening the believer, leading him towards spiritual maturity, which leads to the very practical result of putting our trust in the Lord, who has said, “Without Me ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).
This is the subjective side of hope, described in Romans 5:4, as the outcome of having passed through certain trials, whereas the hope in verse 2 is more objective, something we know all along and which cannot change. These tests are given by the Lord to make believers grow spiritually to become mature in Christ. The purpose of spiritual maturity for all believers was a special burden in Paul’s ministry (Col. 1:28), as well as in Peter’s (2 Pet. 3:18) and John’s (1 Jn. 2:13). It is also described in other passages of Scripture. The Lord allows difficult circumstances—a hard situation, or perhaps even pleasant things—as different means or forms of testing, to have us pass these trials and make us stronger.
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