Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
You and I are one phone call away from a completely different life. Our phone can ring at any minute and we can get a diagnosis, news that we've lost our jobs, or that we've lost loved ones. We're one phone call away from a completely different life. When that trial hits, it's hard to reconcile how we're going to navigate through it. If you're like me, the question I always ask God is, Lord, how much longer do I have to go through this? Some trials take a day, some take a week, some take months or years. I've been in trials where I've asked the Lord, how much longer do I have to endure this?
How Can We Rejoice in a Trial?
It's interesting—in our verse today, Peter tells us to be truly glad. Another version says, "In this you greatly rejoice." How can we rejoice in a trial? Those two words don't go well together. Rejoice in trial. How do we make sense of that? Those words just don't jive. Yet Peter says, "Hey, be truly glad." In order to understand why we need to be glad, we need to back up a few verses. In verse 4 he says that we have a priceless inheritance. Then in verse 5 he says that God is protecting you by His power. What can we rejoice in?
First, as we go through the trial, we have a God who is protecting us. We have an inheritance in heaven. When we get to heaven, our pain will expire. Peter is trying to remind us—be heavenly minded. There's an inheritance waiting for you. You have a God who is present with you in the pain. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Don't forget what's in store for you, don't forget what's ahead.
Why God Takes Us Through Suffering
When we're in the thick of it, I like to ask myself, Lord, why am I going through this? One of the things I've learned when I've suffered—especially when I've lost loved ones—is that I've learned to grieve with those who grieve, to sit in people's pain. Very often, God takes us through suffering and pain so that we can minister to other people. God also conforms us into the image of His Son through trials. I know it can seem like God is picking on us or trying to destroy us, but really He's trying to develop us. In fact, a verse later Peter says this: "These trials will show that your faith is genuine." I don't know about you, but I want a faith that's genuine. One of the reasons God takes us through pain and trials is because He wants our faith to be genuine. He wants our faith to be tested so that it can be trusted.
Cling to the Promise
If you're watching this and you're in a financial struggle, or you just got a diagnosis, or you just lost a loved one, or you lost your job—my encouragement to you is to cling to this promise: God is protecting you. God is a loving Father who is going to walk with you every single step of the way. Keep your eyes on the Lord.