AUDIO PODCAST

“If Necessary… But Only for a Little While”

There are moments when the weight of life presses so hard against our spirit that we wonder—is this God’s will? When trials crash against us like unrelenting waves, it is easy to feel abandoned, easy to think that suffering itself is the story. But Peter, the rugged disciple who knew hardship well, gives us a different perspective:

“Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.” (1 Peter 1:6)

If necessary.

Not random. Not meaningless. Not eternal. But necessary. Not because God delights in our pain, but because He delights in seeing us win. Thus, when necessary—when He sees the need for growth and, importantly, because we are not levelling up voluntarily and putting into practice what we have been taught so far—He signs us up for a training session for strengthening our spiritual muscles and refining our spiritual senses.

We can prevent such situations from unessarily arising by ensuring that trials do not become a necessary means of our growth. In other words, when we take a proactive approach to our spiritual development—actively seeking wisdom, deepening our understanding, and aligning ourselves with God’s truth—we allow transformation to take place without the need for hardship to be our primary teacher. Instead of learning through crisis, we learn through pursuit, choosing to grow in faith before circumstances force us to.

The levelling up can leave us feeling sore for a moment; ask anyone who goes to the gym and puts in a decent workout, but we also know that the soreness is just a temporary part of the process. Afterward, you stand stronger and are more robust as you walk up stairs and through life.

Before you can soar, you have to get sore. You have to use your spiritual muscles, or you will be forced to when the devil comes after you. So you had better get a head start. Just as an athlete trains before stepping onto the field, we must build strength before facing life’s battles. Strengthening does not happen passively—it requires dedication, effort, and endurance. But when the testing comes, those who have prepared will stand firm while others falter.

A father does not leave his child weak when he can make him strong. The mother nurtures and protects, but the role of the father is different—he strengthens, disciplines, and prepares for the weight of responsibility. A coach does not shield an athlete from the pain of training required to win the crown. And God—who knows the weight of the destiny He has placed upon you—will not let you walk into your inheritance unprepared.

The key to experiencing the extraordinary is to put in the extra effort to attain it. We either do that voluntarily, or we will be nudged—but never beyond what we can manage.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Discipline: The Mark of a Son, Not a Slave

Hebrews 12:6 reminds us:

“The Lord disciplines the one He loves and chastises every son whom He receives.”

The Greek word for discipline—paideuō—does not mean mere punishment. It is the training of a son. It does not mean break. It is the shaping of character for a royal inheritance. It is the proof of belonging.

Slaves are left to their fate, but sons are trained. Are we living like slaves—passive, defeated, resigned to hardship? Or are we living like sons—embracing correction, growing through training, and preparing to reign? If we endure, we emerge strong, firm, and steadfast—not broken, not discarded, but built for glory.

God often speaks to us in whispers—through His Word, through conviction, and through gentle nudges in our spirit. If we listen and respond, we align ourselves with His wisdom, avoiding unnecessary hardship. But when we ignore His voice, when we resist His leading, He may have no choice but to let us feel what we refuse to hear.

Sometimes, pain or discomfort is the only thing that will break through our stubbornness and get our attention. Not because He delights in our suffering, but because He knows what is at stake. A loving parent does not watch their child walk toward danger without intervening. If a warning does not work, sometimes only the sting of consequence will.

And so, in His great love, God allows discomfort—not to harm us, but to protect us. He disciplines us because He sees the greater danger ahead, the pitfalls we cannot perceive, and He will not sit idly by while we walk into destruction. His correction is never about punishment—it is about preservation.

Sometimes, the best way to get a tree to grow is to pile a whole bunch of manure around it.

Discipline: Protection and Transformation

God’s discipline is not just about refining—it is about protecting us. He knows that to step into greater glory requires greater wisdom, strength, and discernment. Without transformation, we remain vulnerable—easily deceived, easily broken.

Hosea 4:6 declares:

“My people are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge.”

When we refuse growth, we remain exposed. Without renewed minds (Romans 12:2), we carry old, flawed thinking into new seasons. Without corresponding action, we sabotage our own destinies. God’s discipline is both a shield and a sword—protecting us from dangers we cannot see while equipping us for battles we must fight.

There is no transformation without change, and change begins in the mind—how we see things and think about things. We must be willing to unlearn the lies of the enemy and embrace the truth of God’s word. Only then can we step into the fullness of what He has for us.

The Enemy’s Strategy: Keeping You Weak

The devil, on the other hand, has no interest in you becoming stronger. That is why he will distract you and help you do everything but strengthen yourself through a dedicated spiritual practice. He will offer entertainment, busyness, comfort, and even religious activity that keeps you passive rather than actively growing.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

If he cannot destroy you outright, he will keep you spiritually weak so that when trials come, you are unprepared. He knows that a weak believer is an ineffective believer. That is why we must resist him, standing firm in faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). Spiritual strength is not built in comfort but through commitment. If we want to walk in victory, we must train like warriors, not spectators.

Restoration: God’s Final Word

Suffering is not the conclusion of your story. Refinement is not ruin. There is an after. There is a restoration.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace God Himself will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10)

A little while.

That is the promise. Not forever. Not an identity of suffering. Just a season—a necessary season, but a temporary one.

Look at Job. He lost everything—his wealth, his children, even his health. But Job’s story did not end in ashes. The Lord restored him. And not only restored him—multiplied him (Job 42:10). His latter days were greater than his former.

Look at Joseph. He was sold, betrayed, imprisoned. But every trial was positioning him for promotion. And in one day, God raised him from the pit to the palace.

Look at James’ words:

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.” (James 1:12)

Every hardship has an afterward. Every valley leads to a higher peak. Every trial—if endured—produces the strength to lay hold of everything for which Christ has laid hold of you (Philippians 3:12).

You Were Made to Win

This moment—this trial—this crushing season—it is not here to destroy you. It is here to prepare you. You are being forged for something greater. The fire is not to burn you, but to refine you. The training is not to break you, but to build you.

God has no interest in keeping you small. But He also will not place a kingdom-sized calling in untrained hands. That is why if necessary—and only for a little while—He allows the testing. So that when the restoration comes, you will not merely receive the promise, you will be able to carry it.

So endure, knowing this: after you have suffered a little while, the same God who called you will restore you. And you will stand—strong, firm, and steadfast.

In essence, God loves you more deeply than you can comprehend and cares for you beyond what you do for yourself. His desire is for you to step into the fullness of His goodness, to experience the abundance He has prepared for you. He will move heaven and earth to bring you into His best. The wisest thing we can do is surrender our resistance, stop clinging to our own way like stubborn children, and learn to walk in step with Him.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. In what ways has God used trials to strengthen your faith and character?
2. How do you typically respond to discipline—from God or in life? Do you embrace it or resist it?
3. What areas of your spiritual life need more intentional training and strengthening?
4. How can you guard against the distractions the enemy uses to keep you spiritually weak?
5. What promises of restoration from Scripture encourage you in your current season?

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your refining fire, for loving me enough to discipline and strengthen me. Help me to see trials not as punishment but as preparation for the greater things You have in store. Renew my mind and transform my heart so that I may walk in Your wisdom and strength. Protect me from the enemy’s distractions and lead me to a life of purpose, power, and victory. I trust that after this season, You will restore, establish, and strengthen me. Let me emerge firm, steadfast, and ready to carry the full weight of my calling.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.