… Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory … 1 Peter 1:8
Not only do trials strengthen our faith in the Lord, but they deepen our love for the Lord. Although those to whom Peter was writing had never seen Jesus physically, such was not the case with Peter, for Peter had not only seen Him daily in His humanity but had actually seen a sneak preview of His Deity. Yet Peter’s joy was not unspeakable on the Mount of Transfiguration, for he merely said, ‘Lord, it’s good for us to be here,’ (Matthew 17:4).
Therefore, I suggest that even though Peter had beheld Jesus physically, those to whom Peter was writing would experience an even deeper love and keener perspective due to the trials they faced.
Certainly, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found this to be true …
Inside a furnace heated seven times hotter than it had ever been previously, these guys were in a fiery trial indeed. Yet because a ‘fourth Man’ — the Son of God — was in the fire with them, they didn’t come out of the furnace until they were commanded to do so (Daniel 3:26).
A lot of us are getting to the place where we say, ‘Lord, keep me in the fire continually if that’s what it takes for me to see You more clearly.’
‘Your joy is unspeakable,’ Peter says, ‘because you’ve seen Jesus in ways that far transcend seeing Him physically — even when He was transfigured in glory.’
This devotional by Jon Courson reminds us that in the trials we face we have an opportunity like no other to meet with Jesus. Dear, saint don’t miss Jesus in whatever you may be facing today.
By His Spirit,
Pastor Bill