1 PETER 5:8-10

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

 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.

TO PONDER

Interesting enough, it was Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher, and atheist, who first coined the phrase ‘what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger’. It’s a phrase often used and is even a hit song by Kelly Clarkson.   

Our text hints at this as well. …after you have suffered a little while…and we do. 

As a follower of Jesus, pretty well anything can happen. You think life will be easier being a follower of Jesus? Think again. You think there will be endless joy being a Christian? Nup! We’re not immune to the tough things that life throws at us. Christ-followers (that’s you and me) get cancer, bury children, and battle addictions. It’s not the absence of storms that sets us apart. It’s who we discover in the storm. For us people of faith, it’s how we act, and react, and handle life. Faith doesn’t make things easy; it just makes things possible. Being a Christian doesn’t mean you won’t fall. It means you won’t stay down when you do.  

The final verse above tells us that the best is yet to come. We will be restored! That is something to rejoice in. 

PRAYER: God, we know that life can sometimes be cruel. We know that there will be suffering ahead for us or for our loved ones. Reassure us that spending eternity will far outweigh the hassles we sometimes have on earth. In our discipleship walk, give us the words to say to those who don’t know what you offer. Amen       

Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping