In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
–1 Peter 1:6-7
Back when I was a pastor in Florida, we had a man on staff named Larry. Larry was a Messianic Jew, someone who is a Jew by birth but has recognized Jesus as the Messiah and has trusted in him to forgive his sins.
When Larry did that, his family completely cut him off as if he were dead to them. He had not seen his parents in four or five years.
One night Deb and I took Larry and his wife out to dinner. When we got to a restaurant, Larry’s parents were there too.
Larry turned white as a sheet. And I watched him get up, walk over to his parents, and try to engage them in conversation. But his dad simply turned his head and refused to speak to his own son.
For many, following Jesus Christ costs dearly.
Most of us don’t know what it means to suffer as Larry did. Yet suffering, while it’s real, is only temporary. So if you’re going through a time of suffering in your life, understand that God is at work in you and will bring you through it victoriously!
EVERY BELIEVER GOES THROUGH PERIODS OF SUFFERING. SO WHEN GOD BRINGS YOU TO A TIME OF TRIALS, REMEMBER THAT HE’LL ALSO BRING YOU THROUGH IT.
