“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. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5.10-11
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30.5
When in the midst of troubles, we think it will never end. We tend to believe that our difficulties will last til eternity. The dark hole of despair in which we find ourselves is so deep that we will never find a way out. Yet rarely is this the case. Sometimes situations are seemingly hopeless but there is always hope, always grace and always God.
In this passage Peter has just written about suffering and the spiritual attacks of the devil. But now the tide is turning. The sun is rising. The light is getting brighter. The darkness is abating and God is having the victory. The “God of all grace,” that is who “called you to his eternal glory in Christ.”
Peter acknowledges how the people have “suffered a little while,” however, God “will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Aren’t those great words? Strong, firm, steadfast. We find strength in Christ in the middle of our suffering because he has made us such. He will, not might, but he will restore us after our suffering. This is what God does. He rescues the broken, heals the sick, cure the lame, redeems the lost, saves the sinners.
And Peter concludes his thoughts with this phrase, knowing that God has won the victory in our lives — “to him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” We serve a God of power, the “God of all grace,” who helps us in our time of need.
Are you suffering? Are you in despair? Do you need help? Do you need answers? Why not call out to the Lord? Cry out to the one who has the power to save you. He is willing and able. He who brings rejoicing in the morning will rescue you from the pit of hell. By his grace and for his glory.
“O Lord God, you are good. I am but a servant of the Most High God. This is who I am, this is what I do. I serve you. I follow you. I obey you. I give you praise. And you, have redeemed me. You took the old person and created a new one. You put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Thank you Lord for loving me. For because of your love you came down. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen