But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Pet 5:10

Waiting on God can be difficult, especially when fervently seeking an answer to prayer or stepping out in faith to claim His promises. Sometimes we fail to recognize God’s answer because it doesn’t look like anything we expected. God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. The scripture passage reminds us of God’s faithfulness to see us through troubled times, even if it involves a time of suffering. The child of God can know with great confidence that present troubles work for our good to “make you perfect, stablished, strengthen, settle you.” God is unaffected by time. He is the Master over time, and He is patiently working “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). God does not, and will not, give up on His children. He is the Potter (Jer 18:4) who shapes the circumstances that impacts our lives that we may be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29). He has a lifetime of work planned for the lives of His children. My friend, even when we have fall, fail, and fumble, God is still reaching out to us as He did with Peter in the days following his denial and while he was hiding in shame. He wants you to know that He has not given up on you and will continue His work until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). Dear friend, as you read and meditate on the word of God, know that God is at work to transform your mind (Rom 12:2), establish you in His perfect peace (Isa 26:3), strengthen your faith with courage to believe, and “settle you” that you may “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11). Friend, hear the word of God say unto you “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Know that your suffering is for a little while, but “joy come in the morning” (Ps 30:5). Father thank You for Your love, Your grace, and Your work “unto the eternal glory by Christ Jesus.” I will praise You for Your faithfulness. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.