Tuesday, May 16th, 2023

Life is difficult, especially in certain seasons in life. But does difficulty, sorrow, and loss mean God's favor has been taken away from us? The answer is no, but we need to understand more of this to grasp what is really happening. Sin has consequences, and while God may rescue us from some consequences of sin, other times He does not. Why? Because His ultimate purpose is not that we skate through life but that we grow closer to Him, learn to cling to Him for all things, and to bring glory to Himself in this. So, the appropriate response to consequences of sin is repentance and seeking the Lord. But sometimes, circumstances beyond our control create suffering and/or difficulties in life leading us to seasons of loss, confusion, and anxiety. What do we do in such times? Has God turned away from us? Look to what Peter wrote, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Peter, after reminding his audience of how God has given us new life in Christ, reminds them that they also have received an inheritance. However, this inheritance is in heaven, and waiting for us. He contrasts this with the trials of life that are sure to come. We all know Jesus' words, not to store up treasures on earth but instead in heaven, and Peter echoes them here. But Peter adds further insight: just because life is hard here does not mean those treasures in heaven are any less real nor are they any less wonderful. For suffering here, enduring grief of all kinds, through faith brings glory to God and thus, treasures in heaven to us. Thus, when we face trials of various kinds, we are to count it all joy, as James says, and rejoice, as Peter says! Trials of various kinds may seem to the world, and to our flesh, as God being far from us, but in reality, trials mean God is working personally on us. He is beckoning us to move closer to Him, cling to Him, and thereby, rejoice in Him during bleak times rather than require the comforts of the world. Today, if you are in a season of stress that you cannot seem to understand, understand this: God is working on you. Turn to Him in Jesus Christ's name.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." -- 1 Peter 1:3-7