God Will Restore
The trade is worth it
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And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10 (NET)
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Peter’s first letter is both an encouraging and challenging book.
The latter part of this verse is quite encouraging. I love the idea of God stepping in to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish me.
But the first part of this verse?
Tough.
Who wants to endure suffering — even if it is only for a little while?
Nobody wants to endure it.
Jesus didn’t even want to endure suffering, praying in the garden that if there was another way that God would remove that cup from Him.
(I’m thankful He did endure.)
So, here we have the example of our faith, Jesus, the great high priest, who endured suffering on our behalf so that we would have the opportunity to spend eternity in relationship with God.
The great exchange.
If Christ had to endure, then we should expect to as well.
Of course Jesus did not leave us alone. We have the gift of God’s Holy Spirit living inside us, comforting us, and guiding us along the journey of life — treacherous though it may be.
And when you look at the big picture of eternity, life here on the earth is only a little while.
70, 80, 90 years and then eternity with the glorious King.
The trade is worth it.
Besides, look at all the work God does for us: restoring, confirming, strengthening, and establishing.
We simply need to keep enduring.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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