“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 

Hope in suffering comes from focusing on the work and life of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds the persecuted people they will see Him when He returns and rewards their faithfulness. All things will be made right when Jesus returns. That is a cause for hope and Paul defines it as living hope. Glory is not fully revealed until Jesus returns for His church. Our situations today are preparation for our glory tomorrow.  

Peter focused on the life of Christ, and His death, burial and resurrection. The next event on God’s agenda is He is coming again, but we are not left alone in this present life. He is with us through the Holy Spirit, though we don't see Him.  

Peter did see Jesus. He had the privilege of walking with Him, hearing His voice, seeing His miracles, and witnessing His resurrection. The disciples were witnesses of the living Son of God.     

Now people do not see Jesus in His physical form, yet they love and believe in Him and that brings joy. This is based on a relationship with living Christ, not on that which is seen, but unseen. Jesus promised that very thing when He was standing with Thomas in the upper room following His resurrection. He would not believe in the resurrection without seeing it with his own eyes. Jesus was frank, “You believe because you have seen me, Blessed are those who do not see me yet believe.”     

When one commits Himself to Jesus in obedience, there is blessing and an awareness of God in ways that science does not understand. The more you love Jesus, the more you are aware of His love in your lives through thick and thin. Love and faith go together. When you love someone you believe in them; when you believe in someone you learn to love them, in holy sense.     

How do we grow in faith? Romans 10:17 reminds us “faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of God." We become people of stronger faith by feeding on the Word of God. Trials bring us to the Bible and it sustains us. The key to strength and courage, the ability to endure, and the grace to find beauty and joy even within the crucible experiences of our lives is faith. Likewise, our confidence in what Jesus did, is doing, and will do leads us to joy. That gives encouragement to people who are down. Let God work. Trust His love, His promises and His power.     

Abraham discovered new truths about the Lord on the mount where he offered Isaac. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego discovered His nearness when they went through the fiery furnace. Paul learned the sufficiency of God grace when he suffered the thorn in his flesh. People of faith can be full of joy unspeakable and full of glory. This inner joy is deep and wonderful, it is hard to put it into words.

Application:   Feed on the Word of God throughout your day

Prayer:   Lord, I am confident in what You did on the cross, and what You are currently doing seated at the right hand of the Father will lead us to joy.  I trust You Lord.