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Suffering and Restoration

1 Peter 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.

Oh, I love being given this verse!  What an uplifting word of hope!  Peter says, "after you have suffered".  There is so much power in suffering.  I am not sure why, but there is.  I was just thinking this week that I can feel myself being restored since Mom's passing and it feels as though I am stronger, firmer, and more steadfast as this journey continues.  I am empowered by the grace of God that has sustained me throughout this trial, and now I am feeling the restoration to a higher place beginning to take shape.  It seems as though when God decides to restore something or someone, He always does it to the next level.  For instance, Job's restoration, Israel's restoration to the promised land, Peter's restoration after his denial of Jesus, they all experienced so much more with God than they had ever experienced prior to their sufferings.  Some of the restoration was material, but more so it was restoration within because of their transformed relationship with God/Jesus (I'm thinking of Paul especially.).  That is what I am just beginning to understand.  I am being transformed, but so is my relationship with Jesus.  Oh, the depth of love!  God is in the business of restoration and His restoration is about overflowing my cup.

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