Be Very Glad

 July 2-3

Be Very Glad

Rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13

We all have great hopes and high expectations for our lives. But life doesn’t always go according to plan. From nowhere things begin to change and what once seemed sturdy is now falling apart. You say “No, this can’t be happening. This isn’t what I want.” But it is happening so what do you do?

When life goes off track (according to our plans) it can be downright frustrating. We want it all to be well and stay well. No changes or surprises! The first thing we want to know is: how can I avoid it?  And if I can’t avoid it: how can I quickly get out of it? Fix it? Alleviate it? Or remove it? And sadly if all else fails, how can I numb it?

God’s word tell us instead of succumbing to the frustrations and feelings of defeat we out to be ‘very glad’. 1 Peter 4:13 read in the New Living Translation says, ‘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 all the world.’

In today’s verse we find Peter encouraging us to be overjoyed in suffering so that Gods glory is revealed. We are instructed not to see suffering as a heavy weight, instead see it as a tool to speak of the goodness of God. If you do this, you will be overshadowing all the facts and evidence of God’s grace and goodness in your life. Leaving you depressed, dark, and miserable.

Know within yourself that every experience has a silver lining. ‎Every experience good or bad God will use it for his honor and glory.

Prayer for today: Thank you Jesus for being my Savior. You came down to earth to save me and told me to have faith in You. You said that with faith I can withstand all storms. My mind knows that if I believe, trust and have faith in You, I will survive. Today I choose to put my trust in You once more.  I believe in You, Jesus. I believe that You are Lord. You are the God Most High. You are the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Erase my doubt, Jesus. Take it all away. Help my unbelief. I deliver myself into Your righteous hands. Amen.