Today’s Community Scripture – 4/23/2025

I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.

1 Peter 1:6–9 (MSG)

– Reflection:

God never said that we wouldn’t go through trials, hardships, and unfair situations. 1 Peter says that it is just for a little while, though. He doesn’t say “years from now” that your faith is going to be shown genuine and purified like gold. No, in just a little while, you’re going to see God do something awesome in your life. In just a little while, your health is going to turn around, your child will get back on course, and you’ll overcome the addiction. Don’t believe the forever lies that the enemy loves to whisper: “It’s going to be years before…” He’s trying to get you discouraged, doubting what God can do, to the point where you give up on your dreams.

– Where do we go from here?

Don’t fall into that trap. God says that in just a little while, what you’re believing for is going to show up. Keep that playing in your mind. It’s not permanent, but it will be here in a little while. That’s how you wait with expectancy for the joy that’s ahead, knowing that in just a little while the God you serve is going to show up. We have to remember that those visions in our hearts and minds, which God gives us for the path we are on, are real. We need to do the work for the path we’re on to receive those blessings. Jumping from path to path, thinking that your blessings are coming, is fruitless. We all have at least one path for a season or two. And things stack up; your earlier path leads to something else, not starting from the beginning every time. He placed our purpose within us for a reason, and we have to grow that to see the end.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You that the trials I go through are but for a little while, and You have purposed to use them for my eternal good. Thank You that You are the God of all grace and that You will bring me through them to the wonderful joy that’s ahead. I believe that greater is coming. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.