March 19 – Reckoning “A Little While”

“By God’s power [you] are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.” – 1 Peter 1:5-6 (ESV)

 Even though right now you are not suffering any affliction or trial, there are those who are. And, they are doing so for the sake of Jesus Christ in who they believe. We need to acknowledge that suffering does exist and it does hurt. Affliction is a reality in each of our lives  at one time or another.  Peter recognized and personally experienced many and various ways in which we can be grieved. Specifically, Peter’s first readers were burdened by mental anguish that comes from enduring hardship. Because of the gospel, Peter doesn’t have to end on a note of hopelessness and despair. Instead, he gives us promises to which we can cling. First of all, Peter reminds us that our trials last only “a little while.” Which needs to be understood in the light of eternity; even a lifetime is “a little while” compared to forever! Any current misery is not our eternal end, salvation is. Secondly, we are able to say with confidence that in every moment of suffering, God is present. He is present with His people; He knows and is perfectly able to sympathize with us when we suffer. (Hebrews 4:15)

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A Remembrance: On this date in 1913, our father, Richard B. Anderson (1913-2003), was born in a farmhouse outside of Boone, Iowa. He served the Lord for nearly 40 years preaching and teaching and making disciples in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After retiring from active missionary service he continued to teach other the promises of God as revealed in the holy Scriptures. "Inspiration for Living" was a pre-recorded telephone-call-in ministry for 17 years. It is that work that we first used in 2016 to begin this "90 Seconds with God's Promises" blog.