1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to daily devotions with Pastor John. 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: I'm John Stogey and today's devotion is inspired by One 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: Peter Chapter five, verses ten and eleven, which says, and 6 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: after you have suffered a little, while the God of 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory 8 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you 9 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: to Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. There 10 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: is a pattern we can see regarding suffering. When it's 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: mentioned in scripture, it's treated as a very seasonal concern. 12 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: When it's spoken of in regard to believers, Those who 13 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: trust in Jesus Christ are not destined for eternal suffering. 14 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 1: Our present suffering is real, and it's painful, but it's 15 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,639 Speaker 1: only for a moment. It's only for a little while. 16 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: The truth is, the Lord is using our suffering in 17 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: preparatory ways. He's refining our character, teaching us to trust 18 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: in Him through it, and drawing a stark contrast between 19 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: our suffering and the eternal glory that awaits us in Christ. 20 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: After this season of suffering is complete, He himself promises 21 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. He will accomplish 22 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 1: this all in his power. His dominion over all creation 23 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: is forever. God cares about you. Don't let yourself forget that, 24 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: even if this hasn't been your favorite or most ideal 25 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: season of life, if He is allowing you to go 26 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: through a season of suffering right now, please remember that, 27 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: as odd as it may seem, you will be grateful 28 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: for it someday. It is for your good and for 29 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: His glory that this is taking place. Let's pray. Lord, 30 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: We thank you for your word, and we thank you 31 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: for the privilege that it is to be able to 32 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: read this portion of scripture together today from the Book 33 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: of First Peter. And Lord, as we look at this 34 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: portion of your word, we're reminded of the fact that 35 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: during the course of our earthly lives we will experience suffering. 36 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: But it's helpful to be able to look at how 37 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: it's described in this passage of scripture. You describe this 38 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: suffering as something that takes place over a short period 39 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: of time, over a little while. And we know, Lord 40 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: that while we're in the midst of it. It certainly 41 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: doesn't feel like a little while, but from the perspective 42 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: of eternity, that's exactly what it is, because, as you 43 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: tell us here in this portion of your word, you've 44 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: called us to your eternal glory in Christ. So you've 45 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: given us a new eternal perspective through your son Jesus, 46 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: and that's something that we should apply to how we 47 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: think about our momentary pain. And Father, we're grateful for 48 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: the fact that you promise to restore us, to confirm us, 49 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: to strengthen us, and to establish us in your kingdom 50 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: forever through your son Jesus. Lord. We know that we 51 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: don't deserve this, We know that this isn't something we 52 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: could have earned. But we're grateful to be able to 53 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: think about this while we're in the midst of a 54 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: season that's challenging or difficult or involves a great deal 55 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: of suffering. It's practical, it's useful, It produces hope to 56 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: be able to think about the future you have in 57 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: store for us, and to be able to be confident 58 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: that everything you've promised us in your word is absolutely true. 59 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: You most certainly will bring it all to pass. So 60 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: thank you, Lord for these encouraging words, and we pray 61 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: that you would use this truth to sustain our hearts 62 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: in the midst of difficult seasons, that our trust in 63 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: you would continue to grow because we know that you 64 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: are faithful and true. We thank you for all of 65 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: these things in Jesus' name. Amen.