For a Little While

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ 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.

Perhaps our time on earth is just that, a chance for us to learn faith and to grow in faith. It is the not knowing that forces us to embrace faith. It is in the struggles that faith grows. When we understand our weakness we can then turn to the strength of God.

One might argue that this is unnecessary, even cruel. Surely there is another way that would be just as good, yet kinder? I don’t pretend to know the mind of God, but I do know that His ways are not mine. I do know that He is a just and loving God. I do know that He loves each one of us in a way we are unable to comprehend. A time will come when we will see the end, and the glory of God will be revealed. We will see the purpose and all will be understood.

In the meantime, we are given opportunity to find and live in faith. The angels in heaven may watch with envy as we turn to God in the midst of our trials. That faith is precious in God’s sight. Our faith will bring praise, glory and honor to us from God Himself. We will give Him the glory and praise for all things. Our time here is but for a little while.