How to Know God's Hope in Hard Seasons - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 19
How to Know God's Hope in Hard Seasons
By Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. - 1 Peter 1:1-3
Imagine losing your job and many of your friends and maybe even experiencing rejection from your extended family. How might you feel, and how might your hardship and pain affect your faith? While I don’t know how I’d respond in such a situation, I do know how I reacted decades ago when a series of difficult events left my family and me in a three-year period of constant transition, loss, and uncertainty. Initially, I felt abandoned by God, not chosen and loved. But God used that dark season to deepen my faith and the bonds within our family.
That said, I’ve never experienced persecution like the Christ-followers addressed in 1 Peter. After turning to Christ for salvation, these mainly Gentile believers “suffer[ed] grief in all kinds of trials” inflicted by their Greek and Jewish neighbors. If evaluating their standing from their circumstances alone, these precious men and women would not have felt chosen. Therefore, the opening of Peter’s letter must’ve felt like an assuring balm to their wounded souls.
“To God’s elect,” he wrote, “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God” (1 Peter 1a, 2a, NIV). How comforting to read the reminder of God’s perfect wisdom—of all things past, present, and future. He knew before they even understood who Jesus was, precisely what they’d experience each day after they yielded their souls to Him. He chose them—not for destruction or defeat, but for victory and eternal joy.
In Christ, they’d received a living hope—a firm promise that no one and nothing could take away. They could know, with certainty, where they were heading and everything that awaited them when they arrived.
In the New International Version, quoted above, Peter refers to these men and women as exiles. The New American Standard Bible calls them aliens, and the New Living Translation refers to them as foreigners. The Greek word behind each of these translations indicates someone temporarily residing in an area that is not their permanent home.
Intersecting Life & Faith:
According to Scripture, this applies to all of us. This present world is not our home. We are, essentially, passing through—steadily progressing toward our eternal destination and the inheritance secured for us by the death and resurrection of Christ. Today’s passage reminds me of Christ’s words in Matthew 6:19-21, when He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
That doesn’t mean God doesn’t want us to enjoy nice things, invest in a 401K, or take relaxing vacations. But He does warn us of the danger of allowing those temporary pleasures to capture our heart. When that happens, the hardships we experience feel all the more painful because we’re less anchored in Christ and overly attached to the things we’ve lost.
Peace comes when we remember that we’re travelers, passing through, and therefore, today’s pain won’t last forever. And we are heading toward a beautiful, joyful, certain, and secure paradise where we will no longer experience pain, sickness, persecution, or heartache. A place where we will live with God, completely whole, for all of eternity.
Because we are chosen and called to a hope-filled future, held secure by the God of hope.
Further Reading:
Romans 8:18-39
Revelations 21:1-5
What Does the Bible Say About Rewards in Heaven?
10 Things All Christians Should Know About Heaven
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Maria Korneeva
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
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