“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”
I’m not going to lie. The last few weeks have been really difficult for me. My heart was torn in two almost five weeks ago now as I left Hungary to head back to America. I’ve been trying to figure it all out—trying to grasp what work the LORD did in me while I was gone and what that means for my life now. I’ve probably started to write two or three blog posts, but to no avail. The last week and a half has been particularly hard. Every day, this weight of grief pressed down on my chest, making it hard to breathe sometimes, and always painfully reminding me that I am separated from the country and the people that I love so much. The LORD so radically changed my relationship with Him when I was in Hungary that it is impossible for me to come to the LORD without reminder of the things He taught me there. Those truths were so pivotal and foundational in my understanding of the LORD that they have completely altered the way that I view Him and my relationship with Him. As silly as it may sound, it became particularly difficult to be in the Word and in prayer over the last week and a half because of the very fact that everything about my relationship with the LORD reminds me of Hungary.
Finally, last night at my church college group, I felt the Spirit prompting—no, demanding would probably be a better word—that I spend time with Him. I couldn’t keep ignoring Him, even if spending time with Him made me miss Hungary even more. Because, the truth was, I missed HIM. So, after we worshipped together as a group, I left to spend some time with the LORD on my own. After a kind of strenuous first hour, where I just kept asking questions and searching the Word seemingly to no avail, I came to the conclusion that though God might not answer my questions now or ever, it was okay; because I had Him, and that would be enough. But right after I wrote those words in my journal, I caught a part of the message that was going on in the main sanctuary: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” It struck me to the core—I knew that I needed to just humble myself before the LORD. So much fear and doubt had been keeping me from being vulnerable before the LORD and here He was asking me to cast all my cares upon Him, for He cares for me. So I did. At first it was a little halting as I tried to figure out what exactly I wanted to say, but then my words started to flow—along with my tears. Things I hadn’t even known were “cares” of mine came up from out of my soul; I had many more cares than I realized I had.
I was content enough to give to the LORD my burdens and just to be able to feel something toward Him again. I was grateful enough to know that He loved me and listening and “put my tears in a bottle.” But the LORD didn’t just take my burden; He replaced it with His grace. At this point, I came across the passage at the beginning of this blog (1 Peter 1:6-9). One of the things that I had missed the most about Hungary was the joy inexpressible that the LORD offers. I felt I had lost that joy, that love, that peace that I had so richly in Hungary. So I came back to this passage, and read it again. But this time, a certain part stuck out to me—that this joy is in the midst of trial. Peter is instructing the LORD’s people to rejoice with “joy inexpressible and full of glory” when they are enduring various trials. How is that possible?
The LORD laid these words on my heart, as He showed me the answer—“yet believing, you rejoice.” I found myself wondering, “Believing what?” and, oh the richness of the truths there are to believe in Christ! “For all the promises of God in Christ are ‘Yes.’” [2 Corinthians 3:20]
Believe that He loves you. Believe that all things work together for good to those who love Him. Believe that He is faithful. Believe that it is His good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Believe that he whom the Son sets free will be free, indeed. Believe that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Believe that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Believe that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Believe that you have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear, but a Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Believe that He cares for you. Believe that the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of His own. Believe that if you ask you shall receive if you seek you shall find if you knock the door shall be opened to you. Believe that when you fall you will arise. Believe that when you sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to you. Believe that He knows the plans He has for you. Believe that if you delight yourself in Him, He shall give you the desires of your heart. Believe that Christ became sin who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Believe that while you were still a sinner, Christ died for you. Believe that you have been freed from sin and death. Believe that His Word accomplishes that which He purposes for it. Believe that you are a new creature in Christ. Believe that His grace is sufficient. Believe that His strength is made perfect in your weakness. Believe that He comes to those who are lowly and contrite. Believe that He is doing a new thing. Believe that though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be a white as snow. Believe that though weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning. Believe that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with that which shall be revealed in us. Believe that those whom He foreknew He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Believe that He who began a good work in you will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus. Believe that He is KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS and that He died that you might have eternal life—
BELIEVE AND REJOICE!
