The Trial of Your Faith

Every believer will face a trial of faith.
The question is not whether your faith will be tested, but what kind of faith the test will reveal.
A trial does not create faith—it exposes it.
Just as fire reveals the purity of gold, life’s difficulties reveal the strength of our faith.
Jesus often described faith in three stages:
• Weak faith
• Little faith
• Strong faith
Matthew 17 gives us a picture of disciples whose faith was genuine but insufficient for the
challenge before them.
After failing to cast out a demon, they privately asked Jesus why they could not do it. His answer
was simple:
“Because of your unbelief…” (Matthew 17:20)
Their faith was being tested.
I. Weak Faith Cannot Stand Under Pressure
Matthew 17:17 (NKJV)
“Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with
you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.’”
The disciples had authority (Matthew 10), experience, and good intentions. Yet when confronted
with a greater spiritual challenge, they failed.
Weak faith:
• Depends more on past experiences than present dependence on God.
• Knows about Jesus but is not fully trusting Him.
• Quickly becomes discouraged when prayers seem unanswered.
• Relies on ability instead of intimacy with Christ.
A trial exposes where we have been depending on ourselves instead of God.
Illustration
A bridge is never tested on paper.
It is tested when the weight comes.
Likewise, faith is proven when life’s burdens arrive.
II. Little Faith Grows Through Testing
Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as
a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.’”
Jesus did not criticize the size of their faith as much as its effectiveness.
Throughout the Gospels Jesus repeatedly said:
• “O you of little faith…”
Little faith:
• Believes but still struggles with doubt.
• Starts strong but fears the storm.
• Trusts God until circumstances become overwhelming.
The mustard seed teaches that genuine faith—even small faith—has life in it.
God often allows trials because little faith must grow before greater responsibility can be trusted.
James 1:3–4
“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect
work…”
Trials are God’s classroom.
He is developing endurance, maturity, and dependence.
III. Strong Faith Sees God’s Power Beyond
the Problem
Matthew 17:20–21 (NKJV)
“…if you have faith as a mustard seed… you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to
there,’ and it will move… However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Strong faith is not loud faith.
Strong faith is surrendered faith.
Jesus reveals that some victories require deeper spiritual preparation.
Strong faith:
• Lives in continual prayer.
• Depends upon the Holy Spirit.
• Trusts God’s promises instead of visible circumstances.
• Perseveres when answers are delayed.
Prayer and fasting do not convince God to act.
They prepare us to believe God without wavering.
1 Peter 1:7
“That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it
is tested by fire…”
Gold becomes valuable after the fire.
Faith becomes powerful after the trial.
Close
Every trial asks one question:
What kind of faith do I have?
Weak faith gives up.
Little faith grows.
Strong faith overcomes.
The goal of the Christian life is not merely to avoid trials but to allow God to strengthen our faith
through them.
Ask yourself:
• Is my faith depending on my circumstances or on Christ?
• What trial is God using today to mature my faith?
• Am I spending enough time in prayer for God to strengthen my faith?
Remember:
A faith that has never been tested cannot be trusted.
But a faith that survives the fire will glorify God and move mountains.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)