Isn't it Just Like God...

And isn't it just like God to respond to my inquiries, to fill in the blanks, and to have perfect timing.

The message on Sunday from Ethan was from 1 Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Translation: In the good news of the Gospel you can find exceeding joy. Your life on earth, although not insignificant, is brief, and you'll suffer all sorts of tests and trials while you're alive. But you are tested so that your faith can grow to such great strengths that it will be stronger than refined gold, because even gold can burn up and be ruined in the fire. It doesn't really matter the size of the trials. How you respond to them makes the difference. Each trial molds your faith in some way, grows it stronger. And when your faith is strong, glory and honor and praise go directly to Jesus. And when life is over, and trials and sufferings finally end, in heaven, Jesus will be fully glorified. So, you need to ask yourself, as trials come along, is it worth it? Are trials and struggles and sufferings worth it when you know that the growth of your faith, your reactions to situations bring glory to God? They are. Small or large. Tough or simple. Just knowing that they bring glory to God is enough to press on. Hold tight to the Gospel. Hold tight to God. It's worth it.