IF NEED BE
1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls.
This month has been a time of highs and lows, more than usual, higher and lower than usual. I experienced my first sermon, more emotions than I can articulate, but the pinnacle was a spiritual high like none before. What I took from the sermon that He gave me was that He would never forsake me; He was there to deliver exactly when and what I needed the most. After that incredible day has come waves of emotion; some building, most seeking to tear down. I have endured painful words, and found mental struggles to be great; things that I hold dear have come to be difficult. Satan is coming at me in that area of anxiety and depression; it is my thorn in the flesh as Paul describes; but even in it, there is a purpose through it from God.
As I awoke this morning, my daily verse from YouVersion was 1 Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. God has that incredible way to speak to us when we truly seek Him. Even in your daily devotionals He can deliver just the right word at just the right time. If in my struggles with anxiety and depression, God can be glorified, than in that fiery trial Satan’s evil works are used for good. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. In the scripture of 1 Peter 1:6, do you see the purpose of God there in between the comma’s; IF NEED BE. There are many purposes of God behind all that is in your life, all that you struggle with can be used by God. There is nothing that cannot draw you closer to Christ. You either rebel and run away drowning your sorrows in some way, or you draw closer to Him as a result of what you are facing.
The IF NEED BE, is between you and God. Many preachers preach that trials are the punishment for sin. I concur, but I also realize we are always lost in sin no matter at what level we pursue righteousness. The trials that we face are just part of the Sanctification process of God; His way of seeking to make us more like his Son. What makes it different is how we respond in them. Do we go to Him, do we point others to Him in how we are dealing with it? The world will teach worldly ways; medication, self-helps and fixes, blame, denial, and every other road except heavenly. When you are facing a mountain, or your mountain seems to be crumbling, go to the One who made the mountain. In and through Him is where you find hope for the ability to climb or find safety from all the rocks falling around you. Then you are able to share how He helped you to deal with that trial to someone else enduring it also; God is glorified in and through you.
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