Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. Isa. 43:1-2 (NIV)
And 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 (ESV)
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, thank you for re-parenting us through the Scriptures. You don’t primarily give us “verses to claim.” You come to us as a Father to know, love, and trust. We are grateful.
Today, in particular, thank you for validating our struggles. You don’t say to us “if” we pass through deep waters and rushing rivers, but “when” we do so, you’ll be with us. We don’t have to spin or pretend.
Thank you for being upfront about what we can expect in life between the resurrection and return of Jesus. There will be difficult seasons, hard stretches, and unexpected chapters. But you are just as sovereign over our sorrows as our joys.
Grant us Peter’s perspective. No matter how many years you give us in this world, suffering in this life is for “a little while” (1 Pet. 5:10). In the big scheme of things, it’s only going to hurt a little longer. Thank you for your promise to “restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us”—in, by, and after our sufferings.
Help us reason like Paul, as well. Give us his “Gospel-math.” When added up, the glorious things you’ve prepared for us when Jesus returns, will make all our heartaches and suffering seem trivial. Thank you, Father. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.
