Holding on to Hope: 1 Peter

Tuesday, May 4

Today’s reading: 1 Peter 1:3-8

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

What encouragement! In the beginning of his letter, Peter speaks of hope and how suffering leads to glory. He reassures the “scattered” Christians he is speaking to (and us) that God gives us the grace we need to honor Him when the going gets tough. I find hope in this message knowing that trials we face today will refine us so that we will praise and glorify our Father. Just as silver and gold are refined in a furnace, Christians are refined, by their trials. This image of metal cleansed in flames confirms what many of us feel in our suffering. Trials are a fire, and fire burns. We watch and wait as the flames work to produce something better… until we are purified and reflect the beauty of Jesus. If we will remain faithful in the sufferings of this life, our trials will give us far more than they take away.

Even when trials overtake us and the suffering feels meaningless, we are still wrapped in God’s good and perfect will. Even when the flames rise higher, we are still hidden safely in his hands (Isaiah 43:2). All that God does for us here and now is to prepare us for what he has for us in heaven. So, if suffering today means glory tomorrow, we should rejoice and give thanks as we look ahead.

It’s through living hope that I have encouragement for each day on earth and am reassured of future glory and blessings for eternity. I find hope knowing that God is preparing us through our trials today for what he has in store for us in heaven. What about you? What message in today’s scripture has you holding on to hope?

Jesus, You are our living hope! We rejoice knowing that you live inside of us today as we walk this journey of life and deal with all circumstances. We are forever grateful for refinement in trials and trust that you are transforming our suffering into your glory. We praise you for all that is past and trust you for all that's to come. The assurance of heaven helps us in our daily life. Because you live, we can face tomorrow. Amen