There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
—1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)
Even though we live in a world that offers no security, we have the greatest security in Jesus. Heaven is an incredible joy, and it is the promise for those who believe in Him. Life can be very difficult, but when faith in Jesus anchors you, you live in His peace no matter what life throws at you. Your perspective is not based on what you feel. It is based on what you believe. And that belief is filled with His promise. Believing Him fires your faith. Life is full of joy instead of fear. You know to whom you belong, and nothing shakes the joy of His salvation in your life.
Grace changes everything in this life and the next. Where you were once lost, now you are found. Where you once had no hope, now you have His most exceptional promise. You don't take care of yourself. The Lord takes care of you. You can't control circumstances or a virus or the stock market, but you can trust in God to take care of what you can't. You can't believe what you see and hear in this world. The world has no peace to offer you. Only Jesus gives peace.
Life tests you. Trials test you. Your faith is far more precious than gold. And when your faith remains strong through many trials, you experience the assurance of abundant life in Him. You live in His security where life cannot throw you—you rest in His peace when others are falling around you—you rejoice in His promise when it appears you have nothing in which to rejoice.
“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord,” the writer to the Hebrews declares. “Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith” (Hebrews 10:35-38a, NLT).
Have confident trust! Remember your reward! Patience endurance is needed! Continue to do God’s will! You will receive ALL that He has promised. He is coming for you one day. Until then, His righteous one will live by faith.
When you believe Jesus has made you righteous by the gift of His life for yours, then your whole perspective changes. You experience your new identity in Him. And when you know who you are in Jesus—that He has made you righteous, you can live by faith.
If you want a stronger faith and peace to anchor you, discover your identity in Jesus. Know how His strength has made your weakness strong. Ask Him. Seek Him. Believe Him. Abundant life is never about what you have. It is about who you are.
© 2020 Lynn Lacher
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