Can you rejoice?

When Peter was writing to Christians in “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1), he was encouraging them to stand strong in trials and persecutions. He said, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6).

Honestly, our trials can’t even compare with the early Christians, but that doesn’t matter. God has promised His “abundant mercy” (vs. 3), to all Christians, no matter what their situation. In our times of financial uncertainty, the price of gold and silver have gone through the roof. Both of them look like stellar investments. But what about investing in something spiritual? Peter wrote, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

Can you rejoice? There’s so much power in His grace to take care of us, but we have to take hold of the grace through obedience (Ephesians 2:8-10). Look at your suffering as an opportunity to grow, and for your faith to develop more and more. In this you can really rejoice.

Kyle Campbell