And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter 5:10
When I was young people asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I had an ever changing ambition that varied according to the age and season of my life. At first I dreamed of being a fairy princess, and for a while I longed to be a Go Go Dancer (it was the white patent leather boots that drew me in). Now as an adult, my ambitions still exist, but they are considerably more circumspect. Strong, firm and steadfast are what I want to be when I grow up. They come at a price and the total cost is life’s experience. You can keep the change.
Peter is writing to those who are, or will, suffer for their faith, and anxiously await Christ’s return. They believe in the resurrection and have experienced new birth, but that isn’t a ticket to life’s bed of roses. Growth and outcome begin with perspective and expectations. If our goal is to achieve the Kingdom of God then our perspective is a world hurt and lost compelling us to serve, not be served, and to give rather than seek gain.
I’ve put away my visions of shiny possessions and golden sunsets for a life worthy of God’s call. I chose the character of He, who will come again in perfect justice and peace.
Love,
Gretchen