Saga of a Kitten Rescue Part V: All Things Beautiful

Our kitten saga ended happily. Every kitten went to an amazing home, and I kept precious Abigail. So what about those life stories that don’t have a happy ending? 1 Peter 1 begins with the wonder of all Christ has done for us and won for us. He knows we rejoice in that, but what about the hard things? He doesn’t make light of them. The Lord makes clear He knows we rightly grieve over them.

“ In this you rejoice,
though now for a little while, if necessary,
you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—
more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—
may be found to result
in praise and glory and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:6-7

I’ve asked Him to make my faith genuine, and He reveals that He wants that for us, too. “If necessary…” If He can’t use it for what’s best in the eternal picture, He won’t allow it in the life of a believer. Even that. And He promises to be with us.

Here are some questions to keep us in hope even in the midst of the hardest things; to keep us from being distracted or dragged under by the trial. We want to keep our focus on Him, and remember that trials have purpose.

• What might He be using to strengthen and purify you?

• To make you more like Christ?

• To position you for more fruitful service?

Because this is His plan for the trials.

I pray this helps us process things through a better filter; a filter of truth. Lord, please speak to each of our hearts about our individual trials and struggles. Please glorify Yourself in it all.