1 Peter 5: 10-11
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ESV
Suffering? Yep! We are knocked off course, doubtful, weak and wobbly. We will be as He restores, confirms, strengthens and establishes us. Welcome to following Jesus!
Being His and not yet being with Him is suffering. Get it? All the threats, dangers, turmoil, trials, tribulations and persecutions are here, not there. The greater our longing to be there - the more we sense that separation and suffer here.
Now, that's a left-handed blessing. It is our suffering here, not yet with Him, that confirms we are His. Who else would care? For whom else would it even be an issue? Yes, non-believers "suffer" here, but having no hope of heaven they suffer normally. We, on the other hand, should sense an keener edge on our suffering. We yearn for that time, that promised and assured time when:
Rev. 21:3-5
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said,
“Behold, I am making all things new.” ESV
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