Entering Peace through Affliction

4/11/25 

When affliction hits or a life altering crisis happens and continues, eventually nothing else will matter, except you, Jesus and His peace.  This place of void and brokenness is where God can create a higher maturity, a higher purpose and a higher meditation of the soul for His greater will.  This is where afflictions are eclipsed by God’s glory.

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10.

"Only the Lord knows how long His child can walk through this stage where the cares of the world and all worldly pursuits mean nothing, when one can firmly look forward to the release and relief of Heaven.  And only God can provide the direction for the next step." *  That is entering His peace through affliction.

In fact, scripture admonishes us not to love our lives unto death.  How many people can truly say that?  Sadly, I only know a few.  Now, we shouldn’t have a death wish, on the contrary.  We need a healthy determination to do the will of God and to fulfill our callings; but not to the extent that we lie to ourselves when our life’s mission is accomplished on this earth.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2. 

We are called to overcome the enemy when he lies to us and convinces us to hold onto this world with a death grip!  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Rev. 12:11. 

“Understanding the sufferings of this life (remember Paul was in prison when writing this letter), and all of the challenges he faced, he understood that as great as it is to serve Christ in this life, it was better to die and go be with Christ forever…It means that you understand that death for a Christian is not the ending, but just the beginning. In death, you lay down your struggle. You complete your race and you enter into the presence of God for all eternity. That’s the experience for every believer and truly that is better.” To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain'? Meaning of Paul's Words Explained (biblestudytools.com)

Our attitude should be as the Apostle Paul stated “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Philippians 1:21. The Lord is Near.

Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.

And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.”.  Isaiah 57:19.

*Sorge, Bob. Fire of Delayed Answers, Oasis House.