After You Have Suffered A Little While… Sis. Bala Samson

1Peter 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.”

God sometimes speaks loudly through His Word, I was excited as I read this scripture which refreshed and revitalized me . We should remember that the trials the devil seeks to use to destroy us, God desires to use, to make us stronger and more equipped to follow Him. Every tree that produces fruit, He prunes so as to make it stronger. (John 15:2) Suffering wasn’t a sign that they were doing something wrong, but Peter reminds us that through the sufferings, God strengthens us spiritually. Satan may try to tear us down through failures, discouragements and humiliation, but God builds you in the midst of all the pain. Want to know more? Stay tuned!

As I look back into my life, the most humiliating moments have been the ones which helped to break me and mold me. We need some breaking in order to be blessed. Too many successes makes us haughty and proud; when God steps in, He loves to cut that off. Remember, Moses was handsome, when he was born but God had to put him 40 years in the wilderness and then made use of him. Never get proud of your height, color, personality and intelligence or whatever; God can spot that subtle ego buried inside you and He would deal with it severely. God has a way to look deep into our sins. We may think it “small” and insignificant but it is “big sin” for God. Understand? Once while on the stage I suddenly lost the Presence of God near me, I felt lost and scared. I was screaming on the inside for God to give me the anointing back, but He allowed me to suffer on the stage. After the meeting, I fasted and prayed seeking for an answer. God showed certain things which might be petty for me but pretty big deal for Him and He was dealing with me to crucify me and make me fruitful. I can suffer anything in this world but not the pain of losing His anointing, I still shiver at the thought of being left stranded without the anointing!

These words, “after you have suffered a little while”, catches our attention, is it not? While waiting on God, seeking the face and advice of my God, he dropped this word into my spirit – it will only hurt for a little while! Friend, since I am a mother of two children, I can surely explain this better to you today. When my children come home hurt and bruised, I would take the first aid box with antiseptics, soap, water, sponge, and bandages in it. My kids would look at my face pathetically and I would lovingly tell them, “If we don’t clean it, it will get infected, and besides it will only hurt for a little while.” When the antiseptic is applied it burns, but it heals. Sometimes children insist on just putting a band-aid on the infected place which would result in the wound getting septic.

God is trying to pour on the antiseptic on our wounds, hurts, and pains. It is only to eventually heal you. The subtle pride that is buried in you, the infection of laziness, rebellion, disobedience, self-righteousness everything would go. God knows everything about us. Sometimes we need ‘deep treatment’ for cleansing, but once He touches us, He brings about a marvelous change. The ‘treatment’ that God gives us may be in the form of illness, financial loss, job loss, misunderstandings in relationships, rebellious children and so on. Only when it hurts us do we understand the hurt that we had done to others, which stirs us to repent and change. When God pours that antiseptic into your wound you will be reminded of your ill spoken word and you will have to go and ask that person to forgive you. Observe the above scripture closely, it says, ‘He will Himself restore you.’ Comforting is it not? He will never leave you to be burnt, but through the trial period, God makes us strong, firm and steady. Blessings, devotion by Sis. Bala Samson