Strengthened and Sustained

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. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6–9
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Strengthened and Sustained
It seems like a very odd thing to say Christians are strengthened in suffering, but this is exactly the nature of our God. He is made perfect in weakness, and he shows forth his strength in death. In his wisdom, he sent forth his only Son to become part of the creation in order to die on the cross and kill death. The Lord and creator of all things dies on the cross to end sins reign and crush the head of the devil, then he rises from the dead to declare his triumph over the grave. In your baptism, you are combined to the work of the cross. In your baptism, you are given the triumph of Christ’s resurrection. So, in your suffering and your low times, God purifies your faith and sustains you in his Word alone. It seems weak. It seems insignificant. The Christian suffers, but the Christian also rejoices as the Lord sustains and keeps us unto the salvation of our souls.
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