1 Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

The Bible is very, very clear that the life of a disciple isn’t easy street. However, it’s equally clear that it’s all worth it. “Peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7) wouldn’t be necessary if life were easy! All the New Testament writers agree on this point. One of Paul’s statements about this has long been a favorite of mine. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) A disciple who hasn’t been tested isn’t much of a disciple. It has been known throughout history that militarily speaking, there’s a world of difference between troops that have seen combat and those who haven’t. That, frankly, is a major difference between the American and Chinese militaries at this point. Only a very few, older people in the Chinese military have actually seen combat, and that was in a border skirmish they lost with Vietnam quite a few years ago. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we aren’t to seek conflict, but it will find us, and we aren’t to shy away from it. This is also a factor in parenting. Parents who try to protect their children from any and all risk are doing them no favors, because, to the degree that they succeed, they are turning them into entitled brats. God doesn’t want entitled brats! I’m reminded of a statement my wife has in her workroom, that she printed out from the Internet: “God didn’t remove the Red Sea, He parted it. God won’t remove your trials from you, but He will give you a way through them.” That’s what Peter, Paul, and the other writers are talking about.

It’s interesting to realize that as I get older, I become more risk-averse. That’s not necessarily good! Challenges don’t seem nearly as inviting as they once did. Turning into a couch potato would be detrimental on every level, and I’ve got to remember that. Today we will be going to a meeting in a place I’ve never been, that’s a full hour’s drive away. I’ve never used the GPS function in the car we recently acquired, and all the directions are in Japanese. There’s no real requirement that we attend this meeting, but it will be a good opportunity for fellowship with people from various churches. I’m thinking it must be important, because of all the opposition to it that the devil is throwing into my mind! I don’t want to “fade into the background” as I get older, but rather keep pressing forward into all that God has for me. Failing to do that would certainly not make God happy with me! On the scale of “trials,” this is extremely minor, but it’s a gentle reminder of what my attitude needs to be. I know that Jeremiah 29:11 is true, from my own experience, so I need to keep looking forward to whatever the Lord has for me, not only for my own blessing but for the blessing of those around me as well, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for today, and all You have planned in it. May I do each thing in turn, on Your schedule and with my whole heart, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on every level, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!