In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though 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

Once when my daughter, Amy, was about five years old, I took her to a local lake for her first small boat trip. So that we wouldn’t get wet while boarding, I beached the bow on the concrete boat ramp. As she attempted to climb in, the boat rocked back and forth violently on the V-shaped bottom. She panicked and refused to board. It took all of my persuasive powers to help her understand that once we shoved off into the water, the ride would be smooth and the rocking would stop. She needed to trust me. I would not mislead her – I loved her. It was a huge step of faith for her though.

Eventually, she climbed aboard, and she chuckled nervously as we coasted smoothly out into the middle of the lake.

God allows and ordains our boats to rock with various afflictions, yet we can trust Him. The rocking of our world will not last. Peter said our trials are just “for a little while.” Ultimately, we will drift on crystal smooth and peaceful waters, but we don’t have to wait for heaven to enjoy serenity. Though our faith is painfully stretched, He steadies us and limits the rocking. The process allows impurities in our faith to be shed from our souls. He is taking us somewhere better – into deeper waters where we are shown His glory!

Charles Wesley once said about trials, “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it’s God who is shaking them.” He knows what He is doing. He would not mislead you – He loves you!

Lord, help us trust that Your purposes in allowing trials are for our ultimate good.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. -John 16:33

When you’re suffering greatly, which I know so many of you are, inner peace is hard to find. Yet among His last words and testimony, Jesus provided a path to peace.

First, the peace we want and need is in Him, literally. John 14:27 says, “My peace I give to you.” The peace He offers is the very peace He experiences in His secure control over the universe. Do you think He frets or worries about the future? Never. He does not panic when things are tough. When we cling to Him for peace, He transfers His calm assurance to us. It’s supernatural.

Next, realize that peace does not come because He removes our troubles. Some teach that God offers us trouble-free existence, if only we have enough faith. Wrong. Never fall into the trap of thinking circumstances must change to experience peace. He is clear that He allows hardships, “In this world you have tribulation.” Yet “the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.” This peace, God’s peace, doesn’t make sense from a human standpoint; it “surpasses understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Harsh circumstances may rage all around us, even in our bodies, yet we can remain calm and serene. History is full of stories of Christ seekers who were tortured, even martyred, while simultaneously displaying a miraculous calm. They did it with His peace, and we can too.

Finally, He tells us to “take courage.” Some Bible versions translate this phrase “be of good cheer.” How can we be of good cheer when our world is falling apart? Because He has ultimate control over our world! “He has overcome the world.” He overcame by enduring the pain and storms of this world with poise and grace, and we can too… but only through Him. Eventually He will enforce His dominance over the universe and remove every hardship, so the wonderful news is suffering is temporary.

So let’s stop trying to generate our own peace, or trying to find it in this world. His peace is free, it is beyond circumstances, and it works!

Find out about The Two Ways To Get To Heaven

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. -Philippians 3:10

We seek to encourage people who are experiencing considerable pain. When pain wracks the body, it seizes the attention of our entire being. We cry out for relief to God and man. When relief is not found or granted, what then? Could there be some redeeming benefit to pain and suffering?

Like us, Paul sought God to remove his painful trials, and Paul certainly understood pain. A partial list of his sufferings is found in 2 Corinthians 12:24-25, “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned.” When release from these sufferings did not come for Paul, he discovered The Great Consolation, knowing Jesus Christ, the great soother of pain.

For Paul, having a tight relationship with Jesus became the overriding goal of his life. Pain relief was secondary. But why? What did he gain from knowing Christ?

Paul provides several points of gain in knowing Christ through pain:

1) Knowing Him is the ultimate discovery of life anyway!
“I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3: 8). Paul reset his affections from lesser, worldly desires, to Jesus Christ. As a result, he experienced the incredible kindness, love, and comfort of Christ. Thus he was drawn deeper and deeper into experiencing the most attractive Being in the universe. Could pain be the unexpected catalyst to awaken us to life’s most rewarding relationship?

2) Sharing in His sufferings leads to sharing in His resurrection power.
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3: 10). When we turn to Him in our pain, He touches us with His powerful presence. Then His resurrection power surges in and through us. His strength is perfected in our weakness. We find ourselves in His grip with an other worldly peace, and unquenchable hope.

3) Clarity of purpose to pursue eternal goals.
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 14).
To word this another way, it is extremely wise to leverage our time and efforts for eternally rewarding purposes. Then in the end, the payoff will be crystal clear. We will have answered His call, and thereby stored up vast treasures… in heaven! This is the ultimate focus, to tell of His goodness in every circumstance.

When we take our suffering and pain to the Lord, He pulls back the curtain to show us Himself. He is the Great Consolation. Where are you turning in the midst of your pain? Let’s draw near to know Him through the pain.