Greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
It’s a rush, the firefighter told me, “One foot in the black; one foot in the green.” Her crew was the Heber Hot Shots, off the “A Bar S,” the Apache – Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona.
Apostle Peter might have appreciated this sentiment. Contrary to our modern view of various trails, he said “Greatly Rejoice.” Look at it as a rush. Look beyond the immediate trail to what lies beyond it. As Christians we are going to have things that come against us that just aren’t pleasant. We’re not tip toeing through the tulips. We are walking through a swap. There are pleasant places and green pastures to lay our heads. Yes. But there are valleys in shadows that simply feel like death.
It builds our character. It builds our faith.
The wonderful result is “praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
Jonah’s Song 