STRENGTH IN THE HEART (10)

“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, STRENTHEN, and SETTLE you” – 1 Peter 5:10

God gives His children STRENGTH in the HEART, to SETTLE our lives and destinies on His firm foundation: “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” (1Pet.5:10). The God of all Grace perfects our redemption, establishes and strengthens our hearts, and settles us in life! How established and strengthened our hearts are determines how settled our lives become. The New Living Translation says, “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”

The phrase “after you have suffered a while” implies that suffering, however brief, is a reality of living in a fallen world that’s in enmity with God. Our salvation does not absolutely eradicate discomfort and suffering on this side of eternity. Notwithstanding this, God perfects the redemption of His people: “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION” (Heb.9:11-12). The word “perfect” describes the mending of a fish net or resetting a bone after it’s been broken. God gathers the scatters and broken pieces of our lives, resets our hearts, and makes a beautiful mosaic displaying His Grace. That is, He helps us to walk in perfection; to mature in love and faith.

As Believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit, our ever-present “Comforter” is with us; and our eternal redemption means that suffering will ultimately come to an end. God is determined to shield our hearts from troubles: “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God…” (Jh.14:1). God establishes and strengthens our hearts in order to settle us in life and destiny. To “establish” means “to make solid.” He does all of these in order to settle us where we belong. In the Greek Text of the New Testament, the word “themeliosei” – “will settle” means: foundation, settlement or establishment. We are meant to be settled by God and in God. In the same manner as Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone, the Foundation over which all the structure of the Church is raised, God establishes our entire Christian life on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, until we are settled in His Perfect Will for our lives, and in His Church.

As our hearts are established and strengthened in God, He’ll settle the design and details of our lives: personal, career, marital, parental, church membership and ministry, and leadership. As Christians – pilgrims sojourning through this passing world – various challenges may threaten our dreams and desires, our visions and missions, and our plans and projects. But as we place all of these under the hand of our heavenly Father, they’ll ultimately find settled fulfilment.  We cannot live to our full potential without counting on Him. The matter of becoming settled is not simply locational; it would include our family, profession, dreams, and decisions.

God is strengthening us. Like a trainer would, He is helping the faith muscles of our heart grow. Our hope is increasing; and through life’s tests and trials, we’re becoming stronger in faith. He does all of these to settle all aspects of our lives and destinies; to position us on a firm foundation. Christ provides Himself as the Solid Rock and Firm Foundation we can trust and never be ashamed!