In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10 NLT
After you have suffered a little while … After I have suffered a little while? Lord, are you serious? You allow St Peter to use kindness and suffering in the same paragraph to describe you and your work in MY life? Now that I think about it, maybe it’s St Peter who’s got issues. For surely suffering doesn’t have to be part of your plan for me or anyone else to experience eternal glory?! Right?
Right
And, as for this suffering bit; do you think maybe you’d wish to give me a timeline on how long I’ll be on Sufferers’ Row. Even the juice here – the Cup of Affliction – is untenable. And I have long realised, as Jesus probably did too, that asking you to remove suffering from my life is almost like begging for it to continue. Ouch
But it is a seasonal suffering. Because you promised an end, implicit in “… After you have suffered a little while”. Of course, I’m also remembering that your time is on a different axis from mine. Help me bear up Lord
My child. I promised never to leave you, and I’ve invited you to let’s talk about anything. Remember …
‘Come, let us reason together’
I also offered to take your load in exchange for mine. Remember, MY YOKE is easy.
Would you yoke yourself with me? Right now?
Lord, I –
Sounds like a conversation you (should) have had with the Lord? How does/did it end?
Selah
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
