So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead,
even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 1 Pet. 1:6-7
Heavenly Father, I need this attitude-check passage, on this April Wednesday. A low-grade irritation has been simmering in my spirit. I’m embarrassed to even speak of my irritants as “trials,” because I don’t go to sleep hungry or thirsty, nor do I hear gunfire at night echoing in my neighborhood.
I don’t live with the fear of loved ones being sold into slavery, or a government demanding I renounce my faith in Jesus. These are realities with which many live on a daily basis. And, certainly, many are being profoundly impacted by this dastardly pandemic.
My “trials” are more like mosquitoes buzzing around my head—nibbling away at my joy, energy, and peace. Such as, having to wait an extra day for Whole Foods to deliver my groceries, (poor me). Cool trips getting canceled I was really looking forward to. Being banished from my local gym, forcing me to exercise outside by walking, and inside with pushups (Oh, the hardship).
But I still need your grace, Father. Help me and my friends honor you in the daily-ness of life. May we love well among fellow sinner-saints who also have common stressors, whine-able stories, and normal irritants.
Father, in all the ordinary disappointments, and the life-altering hardships, we want to honor you. Help us value genuine faith more than an easy life. By your grace, turn our gripes into gratitude, and our irritation into adoration. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.