When we undergo suffering, we ought to be encouraged that it will pass. Through the phase of suffering, God will provide the all-sufficient grace we need to stand firm. And He will restore us!

1 Pet 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

God doesn’t call us to a fleeting superficial glory but to His eternal glory in Christ. The suffering is only for a “little while”, encouraging us that there is a time soon coming when the suffering will end.

Rev 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

A lifetime hardly constitutes a dot in the continuum of time. Suffering passes.

2 Pet 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

God Himself will restore us after the season of suffering. His restoration will cause us not to be tossed to and fro, our well-being going up and down along with the circumstances but instead keep us strong, firm, and steadfast.

Isa 26:3 God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him.

The two preceding verses in 1Pet 5:8-9 reminds us to be alert against the enemy who is just waiting for someone to devour, preying on us that we may give up and feel defeated. But as believers in Christ, we are to remember that we do not walk towards victory but we walk from victory because Jesus already has overcome. He will enable us to stand firm in the faith, knowing that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (v8-9). We are not alone. God will be with us. He will use the afflictions for our good to strengthen us, to transform us towards Christlikeness (Rom 8:28-29).

2 Cor 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 10a For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When we are weakest, God’s power unlimitedly meets us at our point of need. He will enable us to put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. Soon, despite the storm, we will just be dancing in the eye of the storm. His grace is sufficient.

I pray that out of God’s glorious riches he may strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being (Eph 3:16). May we be mightily encouraged and strengthened. Even if none of us are exempt from trials and suffering, God will make us more than conquerors, overcomers in His name, Amen.