Read 1 Peter 5:10-11
Discover
1. What attributes of God do you see in these verses?
2. What is the timeframe of our suffering?
3. What does God promise?
Respond
In writing this letter to exiled Christians, Peter knew that they faced a lifetime of suffering. Yet he reminded them that even a lifetime on earth is just a little while compared to the glory awaiting them in eternity. God’s promise to restore, support, and strengthen them was so they could be made holy and pure.
In our own lives, it can be hard to keep this perspective. Suffering never brings us to a standstill. It makes us either run to God or away from God. We don’t have to fear it because we know God can and will use it. Ultimately, He’ll restore, support, and strengthen us, placing us on a firm foundation.
Do you view suffering through this outlook? Or do you avoid it or let it push you away from God? Meditate on the words of verse 10 again, and repeat them as a reminder of God’s heart for you. Thank Him for His promises, and ask Him to change your perspective. If needed, reach out to someone who can regularly encourage you with these reminders.
Want to go deeper? For more on the topic of suffering and what Jesus had to say about it, check out Aaron Brockett’s sermon, The Pain Questions.