“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.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV

This weekend I celebrate a decade of having been saved by God’s amazing grace! As I look back at all that the Lord has done, it is just blows my mind!  I never would have guessed my life would’ve turned out this way.  Through the ups and downs, God has patiently been teaching me to seek His likeness.  Sometimes I just can’t believe all that has happened.  It can be easy to feel sorry for myself.  Then, I take a look at the incredible salvation He has started, grown and is completing, and my heart is filled with joy! Out of everyone in my family, I was the least likely to be saved.  I was the lost black sheep straying every which way.  Initially, my dad thought this new Christianity thing would be a phase I’d soon get over… Ten years later Jesus has proven His faithfulness!

Despite the deep trials we must walk through, we are filled with joy in their outcome—that our true faith, more precious than anything on earth, may be refined as by fire to shine with His glory when Christ returns.  It’s astounding that God chose to set His affections on sinners like us and that we get to bring honor to Christ.  If He suffered so brutally on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins, shouldn’t I be willing to suffer in this temporary life for His name? The potential agonies of this life are all worth it when we can look ahead to the glory they will reveal one day. Whatever God wills to do with our ransomed life is His prerogative.  Our unshakable joy comes from delighting in His salvation, and submitting in faith and trusting obedience to His glorious plan.  “Peter’s goal in this text is to have believers understand the joy that should be their own constant expression in light of eternal salvation.” MacArthur “…In light of the blessedness of salvation, no earthly difficulties should have diminished their joy.”