Don’t Be Surprised

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

We tend to think we are doing well when things are going well, but that may not be true at all. God often employs hard lessons to get what He's after in us. Trouble has a way of bringing our attention to things lying just beneath the surface of our complacency, so He uses them to get our attention and retrain our focus. Blessings never draw us closer to God; but we learn to walk with Christ through the hardships He allows, and we enter into true fellowship with Him through the things we suffer. Even Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8), and if we desire to walk closely with God, so will we.

The world will always speak highly of you when you are successful in their eyes; but success in God's eyes looks like Jesus, and He desires we all come into the fullness of Christ and bear spiritual fruit. That fruit is especially pleasing to Him when it is borne in difficult and dry seasons, and that is when we give the Lord the greatest glory. Christ was willing to suffer for us, and we must learn to do the same for Him without whine or complaint -- therein is true joy. So, rejoice in the Lord always! Be glad in Him even when times are hard, and don't be surprised by your fiery trial. God is in control, and He is doing a great work in you. Let Him have His way.


Let's Pray - Heavenly Father, teach me to count it all joy when my faith is being tested by the difficulties of life. May I see those times as an opportunity to grow and give You the glory You deserve. Thank you for Your amazing grace in my toughest times. Amen.