And the God of all Grace, who
called you to His Eternal Glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little
while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
! Peter 5:10 (NIV)
In a sermon about chosen vessels, we were reminded this morning
that even those who are called will struggle. Why wouldn't we struggle? Grace does
not make believers exempt from trials. Grace is about knowing, absolutely, that
while we endure, God causes all things to work together for our good and for
His Glory. It made me think of the old spiritual, I'm so glad trouble don't
last always.
When I read 1 Peter 5:10 this morning, I felt like the sun would
shine again. I was encouraged. This may not strike you as the most optimistic
of scriptures, but for me, having borne so much tribulation lately, this was
confirmation that while the road had been long, we'd never walked it on our
own, and more importantly, it was never intended that we would not be made
strong, firm, steadfast, and whole. I'm so glad trouble don't last always.
Trouble will take you to your knees. Maybe if we started there
getting knocked to them wouldn't hurt so badly, but that's another
conversation. Trouble will take you to your knees, but our connection through prayer
means we are not, we never have been alone. I don't like being here, Lord, but because
Thou are with me, I am comforted. I am assured that this tribulation will not
last. I am assured that after a while, I will be restored. So, in my meantime,
I have learned to be quiet, still, and surrendered. I have confessed with my
soul that God is in control, and that I can patiently, prayerfully wait to be
restored. I can wait, because I know I will not wait forever. You see, I can
wait….'cause trouble don't last always.
On Mondays, I pray and play with friends here...
