“Be truly glad, for wonderful joy is ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine, and is being purified like gold. In fact, your faith is of much greater worth than gold.” When Jesus returns, this will become eternally clear to you. So make Jesus your treasure, for he is the object and reward of your faith. 1Pet.1:6-7
Lord Jesus, when it comes to trials to endure where I live … I woke up to hail bouncing off my roof, but I didn’t hear gunfire echoing through my neighborhood. I don’t live with the fear of my loved ones being sold into slavery, or my government demanding I renounce my faith in you, or with doubts about food and water for today. But these are realities many of my brothers and sisters in Christ live with on a daily basis.
For me, the “trials” I have to endure are more like big mosquitoes biting my ears, armadillos eating the roots of my bushes, or mostly-toothless piranha nibbling away at my joy, energy, and peace. I do have a couple of “biggies” going on, but my reasons to be grateful out number my reasons to be fearful or resentful at least 100 to 1.
Nevertheless, help me and my friends know how to rest in your love and stay kind when little things interrupt our day and bigger things disrupt our lives. Help us keep a core of peace when our cars won’t start, our kids can’t sleep, and our pets pee on the carpet. Help us honor you when our friendships are tested, our livelihood gets threatened, and/or our health grows weaker. Indeed, Jesus, be our greatest treasure. You alone are worthy and you are utterly trustworthy. So Very Amen.