“After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Pet. 5:10); “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18)
Heavenly Father, thank you for the weariness-validating, heart-encouraging voice of the Scriptures. We begin this Saturday with various light and not-so-light experiences of suffering. To suffer is to be human; but to suffer well is to be yours.
The Day of no more “death, mourning, crying, or pain” is coming (Rev. 21:4), and we are most grateful. Until then, teach us how to “ache to your glory.” Our default mode is self-pity. We want it to become Christ-esteem.
In the “bigger scheme”, as Peter said, all suffering is just for a “little while.” When life hurts the most, remind us you are the “God of all grace”—the one who has called us to “eternal glory”—not mere temporal relief.
You will, indeed, “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us, at just the right time. Make your promises just as real as our pain, your daily mercies most comforting in our fleeting misery, and your healing presence more defining than our various heart-hurts.
Like Paul, help us believe “the glory that will be revealed in us” at Jesus’ return, will make the sufferings of this life seem “light and momentary” (2 Cor. 4:17). May we steward our challenges as a calling, that our empathy and compassion for others might grow. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ faithful and beautiful name.