In this week’s lesson, “The Tests of Time and Trials,” John Mulligan taught that genuine faith must withstand two powerful forces: the slow passing of time and the pain of personal trials. He began with 1 Peter 1, where believers are urged to cling to a “living hope” and an imperishable inheritance, even as they suffer grief and hardship. These challenges are not pointless—they refine our faith, proving it more valuable than gold. Scripture never promises that following Jesus will shield us from difficulty; instead, it assures us that endurance through suffering is a mark of true faith.

Faith is tested across all stages of life—from the passions and temptations of youth, to the distractions of success and comfort in middle age, to the physical decline and loneliness of later years. Each season presents new threats to our spiritual roots. Jesus’ parable of the sower warns us that shallow, short-lived belief can wither when trials come. True discipleship is not a fleeting feeling but a lifelong commitment—faithfulness that holds steady through changes in circumstances, status, or strength.

Trials also take the form of loss, pain, doubt, and even persecution. Whether facing a devastating diagnosis, a loss of a loved one, or a crisis of belief, believers are reminded that these are the fires through which faith is refined. When we fall, we’re called to get back up. Faith doesn’t mean we’ll never stumble—it means we return to God again and again, trusting that He’s still with us. The promise remains: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.” Genuine faith keeps going—not because life always makes sense, but because we trust in the One who holds the end of the story.