Have you ever heard the saying in Christian circles, “never trust anyone who doesn’t walk with a limp?”  This saying is so common now that it sometimes can sound rather trite, but it’s not, not when it comes from a place of suffering and humility.  When it’s used by someone who hasn’t been to that place, and doesn’t know of that suffering, it’s usually brought without the humility that characterizes its veracity.

The reference is, of course, concerning Jacob and his wrestling match with God.  As we remember, Jacob took hold of the angel of God and wouldn’t let go…. until he got his blessing.  There could be no outcome of this wrestling match except that Jacob completely and fully surrender to the God who would ultimately bless him, but it would cost him dearly.  He was forever after a marked man – a man who walked with a limp.

When we have been through something so severe that it causes us to look differently to people, sometimes it’s perceived as a flaw… except to those who also walk with a limp.  While some may look on the ‘limp’ as a defect, others who have also wrestled through some situations recognize the ‘limp’ as the mark of a great struggle – one that required complete surrender and humbling in order to survive.

Peter is also an example of one who went through a traumatic ordeal and test of his faith when Jesus was seized, tried and convicted, and then crucified.  Hours before all of this happened, Peter made great swelling statements of his undying loyalty and faith – and we know how that ended.  In utter brokenness, Peter had to come to grips with the fact that he had not only failed to stand by Jesus, but he had completely denied him.  As the events of the day heated up, the fire got way too hot for Peter and he caved under the pressure.  Later, when he repented in bitterness of soul, he realized that not only could he not trust those around him (the other disciples), he couldn’t trust himself!  Now that’s the place you learn humility – when you realize that you are completely dependent upon the grace of God for anything within you that is good, or faithful, or trustworthy.

Peter later wrote: “though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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 Pet. 1:7).

Peter’s failure was not written about in the Bible so that we could all point to it and use it as a reason or an  excuse for our own.  On the contrary, Peter’s failure was to teach us about the frailty of our own human spirit, and our complete and utter dependence upon the Spirit of God for anything good at all within us.  To each of us, a measure of faith is given… BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

God shares his Glory with no one, and no flesh will glory in His presence.  If there is even a modicum of pride in a person’s confession of faith, God will make sure it is purged through the fires of his trials.

Only when we have been to that place of struggle in our own trials, can we then know that even our faith is a gift of grace from the Spirit of God, not by our own doing.  When we have this kind of faith, it is God-centered and not man-centered.  It’s the kind of faith that can see a fellow ‘limper’ and appreciate his struggle – knowing that the Grace of God sustained him.  Don’t ever be caught showing distain for someone who walks with a limp – for it is precious to the Lord.

You can know the scriptures, and quote them… “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” etc.  But until your faith has been tried in the fire, even your confessions of faith are without depth and unproven.

As we go along in this study, we’re going to look more at what the trials of faith look like in real life, in the life of a Believer.

…more to come.