The “Little While” of Our Aches and Sufferings
By Scotty Smith
After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Pet. 5:10-11
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Heavenly Father, thank you for the weariness-validating, heart-encouraging voice of the Scriptures. We begin this Tuesday with various light and not-so-light challenges weighing on our hearts and backs. So, these Scriptures, from Peter and Paul, about the normalcy of sufferings we experience, are quite timely.
Both of these men were quite familiar with suffering; and both were even more familiar with your sovereign might and copious grace. To a certain degree, everything and everyone is broken. So to suffer is to be human; but to suffer well is to be yours.
The Day of no more “death, mourning, crying, or pain” is coming (Rev. 21:4); but that Day is not yet. Until that Day, there is you, and all the grace we’ll need to ache to your glory. Thank you, Father.
In the “bigger scheme”, as Peter said, all suffering is just for a “little while.” When life hurts the most, remind us you are the “God of all grace”—the one who has called us to “eternal glory.” You will, indeed, “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us. Make your Word more real than our pain, your grace more substantive than our sufferings, and your presence more defining that our aches.
Free us to believe “the glory that will be revealed in us,” when Jesus returns, will make the weight of our sufferings seem feather-lite. Until that Day, grant us grace to steward our challenges as a gift, that we might grow in compassion for others. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus, faithful and beautiful name.
Scotty Smith is the founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee.