“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10, ESV)

Today’s verse carries a profound promise from the God of all grace. However, it starts with a reality check – suffering is part of our journey. The struggles we face, the worries that keep us up at night, the disappointments that seem to follow us around, are acknowledged in this verse. But they are also put in perspective – these sufferings are but for a “little while”.

The verse then shifts focus from our transient suffering to God’s transformative grace. The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. Each of these four promises addresses our fears and anxieties.

1. Restore: To restore is to return something to its original state. It implies fixing what’s broken and replenishing what’s depleted. This is God’s promise to those weighed down by loss and pain.
2. Confirm: The promise to confirm us gives assurance to those doubting their worth or questioning their purpose. It is God’s commitment to affirm us and secure us in our identity in Christ.
3. Strengthen: Strength is needed when we feel weak, overwhelmed, and incapable. It is God’s pledge to fortify us when we feel like we’re falling apart.
4. Establish: To establish implies setting on a firm foundation, providing stability. This is God’s promise to those feeling unstable, unsettled, or uprooted.

These four-fold assurances aren’t dependent on our efforts but are rooted in God’s grace. It is God who will act. Our role is to trust in His timing, to surrender to His grace, and to hold onto His promises amidst our current sufferings.

Our fears and anxieties may feel massive and insurmountable, but they are dwarfed in the face of God’s grace and His commitment to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.

Wonder in the Word

Which of these promises – restore, confirm, strengthen, establish – resonates most with your current situation? How can you lean into God’s grace in this area of your life?