We Suffer Only For A While

The Christian life is not always easy, we will suffer, we will endure attacks from Satan, but we do know that our suffering here on earth is only for a little while and in the end, it all leads to living throughout eternity with Christ, and that is what really counts!

1 Peter 5:10 'But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.'

Peter here tells us that after we have suffered for a little while, God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.

Perfect means 'to equip, to adjust, to fit together.' The predominating idea in the verb is adjustment, the putting of parts into right relationship and connection with one another.

Establish means 'to fix firmly, to set fast'. We should stand firm in our Christian faith. If we are established with our feet firmly planted on the word of God, we will not be moved by persecution or led away by false doctrine.

Strengthen means just that 'God's strength given to us to meet the demands of life'. Just as Philippians 4:13 says 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'

Settle means 'to secure as in a foundation; to ground with security.' God is able to make us secure through all the sufferings of life, no matter what they are. He is able to settle and secure our nerves, thoughts, and fears.

God uses all the trials and temptations, difficulties and persecutions, all the sufferings of life and uses them to adjust our character. He will perfect us, fit all the parts of life together and lead us to glory. In thinking about all that God does for us, we see in 1 Peter 5:11 that Peter breaks out in praise as he says: 'To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen' Oh my friend, let's join Peter in praising our Lord for all that He has done for us!