Today’s Encouragement is 1 Peter 4:12 NLT Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
Don’t be surprised –
Yet we often are, aren’t we? We are worried that “I’ve done something wrong,” “He is punishing me for my sin,” “I must not have enough faith!” all these are accusations my friend, and our enemy is the one who accuses!
The fiery trials – we all experience troubles and trials in this life, and always will.. Jesus said it clearly… ‘in this world you WILL have troubles, But I have overcome!’ (John 16:33)
Friends, is it possible that our identity as followers of Jesus is determined by how we choose to view this life, and the next? Our perspective of the circumstances of this life, such as a painful, fiery trial, illness or injury, loss of job or a loved one, determines the depth of the impact the circumstance has in our life. That is, we are most deeply negatively affected by trials in this life, when we place our focus on this life.
For example, we recognize that death brings the believer into the presence of God, their joy is complete! Yet our focus on this life, can cause us to grieve their loss for years, and threatens to trap us in grief for decades. A focus on the truth of eternal life, can bring us into a healthy perspective of loss and grief.
Father raise our perspective please, to one of Eternity, above and beyond this life, that we may see that the trials of this life are experienced by everyone, and yet… You are always with us, even in the fire!
Another in the fire
Hillsong
Today’s Encouragement 