“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to the world.” 1 Peter 4: 12-13
“…these trials make you partners in Christ…” Today’s post is about waiting, which seems to be the reoccurring theme of this blog. Yes, it’s about waiting and persevering as we go through some crazy stuff in our walk of faith. Let’s think about how the Psalms give comfort when we’re going through these fiery trials. And think about David, think about how he was running for his life… think about the persecution he endured at the hands of sinful King Saul, not to mention his own son, Absalom. This persecution is what brought forth his crying out to God, the voice we hear loud and clear when we read and meditate upon each Psalm. Every sorrow was yet another note on David’s harp and every deliverance he experienced in his life became a song of praise!
This appears to be God’s way… to let us go through trials so we can produce fruit; and this fruit is not only for Him, we develop this fruit in order to feed and bless others! If David escaped, or was delivered from just one of those sorrowful experiences, just imagine what we could have missed out on! We share the same expressions and the same kind of grief as David.
“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” Philippians 3: 10-11
“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8: 29
I’ve learned THAT is what waiting on God is all about… He wants to make us like Jesus. I’ve learned that God is more concerned with our character than our comfort. I know I said it before—God will allow our earthly comforts to fail us, so we can learn how to depend only on Him. I’ll end today with one of His much loved and comforting promises…
“He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.” Isaiah 42
