Exchanging Pain for Promises
“Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Earlier today as I was talking with a friend about a particular few verses in the Bible, I remembered that these were the very verses one of my pastors had shared with me about a year ago. It was a very dark day in my life and he called to encourage me with this section and its glorious promises ~
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time..."
(1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)
I wish I could say that the darkness immediately lifted when I heard those verses, but a tiny crack of light did break through that day. And as I get further away from those dark days I realize now how utterly kind and gracious God was being to me.
Trials and pain, they are a gift from Him. The darkness brings to light what really matters. Eternity with Him. And with every reminder of pain, I want to turn them into a reminder of those promises. Great and very precious promises, shining brighter than this world and it's empty treasures.
..."In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
(1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV)
― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Earlier today as I was talking with a friend about a particular few verses in the Bible, I remembered that these were the very verses one of my pastors had shared with me about a year ago. It was a very dark day in my life and he called to encourage me with this section and its glorious promises ~
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time..."
(1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)
I wish I could say that the darkness immediately lifted when I heard those verses, but a tiny crack of light did break through that day. And as I get further away from those dark days I realize now how utterly kind and gracious God was being to me.
Trials and pain, they are a gift from Him. The darkness brings to light what really matters. Eternity with Him. And with every reminder of pain, I want to turn them into a reminder of those promises. Great and very precious promises, shining brighter than this world and it's empty treasures.
..."In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
(1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV)
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