In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Comment: ‘In this’ takes us back to yesterday’s devotional about all that believers are offered by God in the present and the future as they live in Jesus. But it brings us, in some ways, down to earth for ‘various trials’ are part of every person’s life. Trouble in health, in relationships etc. But here Peter is underlining problems which made the readers suffer because of their faith. Some believers even today suffer martyrdom, but there are lesser ways also that we may well be called to endure different treatment because of our faith.
But faith is more precious than gold, which has to be refined by extreme heat! In the end Jesus will return and this will result in wondrous things.
Maybe Peter is referring back to Jesus talking to Thomas when He appeared to the unconvinced Thomas after His resurrection. Jesus spoke about the blessings of believing without actually having bodily seen the risen Christ. At any rate our joy in believing and our completed salvation is startlingly wonderful!
Prayer: We are amazed at what You offer us in Your Son, our Father!
As I read it! 
Thank you for your comments on this passage, Barry. This reading today is just what I need. The various trials we are going through here in Victoria is all to do with our faith in God. Christians are being persecuted by the Victorian Government. I cannot go to Church because I am not vaccinated. But I can worship God through the on-line Services, so I praise God for that. I cannot go and pray in Church with others, but I can pray on Zoom with those Christians who join me in prayer. Our faith is certainly being tested in what we are going through here in Victoria, and it is, I believe, going to get worse. We can praise God for what He has done through His Son who died and rose again to bring salvation to all who believe in Him. John 3:16.
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