June 8

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison. — 2 Cor 4:17 BSB

Suffering saints of God! Children of the Most High who are tried and afflicted, lift up your thoughts and eyes to what lies ahead for you. Are you burdened with trials, temptations, and afflictions? This is a mercy from God. He doesn’t deal with everyone in this way. It is because you are His children that He places His chastening hand upon you. He is conforming you to the image of His Son in glory, and therefore He now conforms you to the image of His Son in suffering. You might say, “I can’t believe this!” Of course, if you could fully believe it, it wouldn’t be much of a trial.

This is the trial of faith—to keep pressing on, groaning, struggling, sorrowing, and sighing. To believe against unbelief, to hope against hope, and to keep looking to the Lord, even when everything around you seems to dampen your hope. But everything will end well for God’s people. Though life here is full of temptation, suffering, and trial, heaven will more than make up for it all. If our faith is tried as through fire now, it will one day be “found to result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” On that day, when the secrets of all hearts are revealed, the faith of many will be shown to be mere presumption, but the faith of God’s children will be crowned with glory. They will see the Lamb face to face, and all tears will be wiped away.