Rejoicing in Heaven: Finding Joy Through Trials and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Living Hope Through Christ’s Resurrection

In Christ, we are given a living hope and an imperishable inheritance that sustains us through trials.
Through God’s great mercy, believers are born anew into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This hope is not fleeting or uncertain; it is anchored in the reality of Christ’s victory over death and the promise of an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. Even when life brings suffering and trials, this hope remains steadfast, reminding us that our future is secure in God’s hands. The assurance of salvation and the joy it brings enable us to rejoice, even in the midst of hardship, knowing that God’s power shields us until the final revelation of our salvation. [38:23]

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV):
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel hopeless or discouraged? How might remembering your living hope in Christ change your perspective today?

Day 2: God Understands Our Suffering

Jesus fully understands our pain and grief because He experienced them Himself.
God does not stand far off from our suffering; He entered into it through Jesus. When Jesus saw Mary and the others weeping over Lazarus, He was deeply moved and wept with them, even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was so distressed by the suffering He would endure that He sweat drops of blood. These moments reveal that God is not indifferent to our pain—He grieves with us and for us. Because He has walked through suffering, He is able to comfort us in ours, offering peace, hope, and the assurance that we are never alone in our trials. [45:29]

John 11:33-36 (ESV):
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept. So the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!'"

Reflection: When you are hurting, do you allow yourself to believe that Jesus truly understands and grieves with you? How can you invite Him into your pain today?

Day 3: Genuine Faith is Refined Through Trials

Trials test and refine our faith, proving it genuine and leading to praise and glory.
Suffering and trials are not meaningless; they serve a purpose in the life of a believer. Just as gold is refined by fire, so faith is refined through adversity. When we hold on to our faith during difficult times, its genuineness is revealed, and it becomes more precious than gold. This tested faith results in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed. Rather than turning away from God in hardship, we are invited to trust Him more deeply, knowing that our perseverance brings Him glory and draws us closer to the joy of our salvation. [47:36]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV):
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Think of a recent trial you have faced. In what ways did it challenge or strengthen your faith, and how might you see God’s refining work in it now?

Day 4: Joy and Peace in the Midst of Suffering

The joy of salvation in Christ brings peace and hope even in our darkest moments.
The joy that comes from knowing Jesus as Savior is described as inexpressible and glorious. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in the assurance of forgiveness, salvation, and God’s abiding presence. Even when anxiety, fear, or spiritual attacks threaten to overwhelm, God’s power shields those who trust in Him. When we are filled with Christ, there is no room for darkness or despair. This joy and peace are available here and now, enabling us to overcome the challenges of life and to live with hope, regardless of what we face. [53:34]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV):
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can choose to rejoice in your salvation today, even if you are facing difficulties or uncertainty?

Day 5: Discipling Others Brings Deeper Joy

Leading others to Christ and discipling them multiplies our own joy in salvation.
The call to follow Jesus is not just about personal salvation but about sharing that joy with others. When we help others come to know Christ—through baptism, encouragement, and discipleship—we fulfill the Great Commission and experience a deeper joy ourselves. The act of discipling others strengthens our own faith and allows us to witness the expansion of God’s kingdom. As we support and walk alongside new believers, we reveal God’s love and glory, and our own hearts are filled with inexpressible joy as heaven grows. [56:49]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV):
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: Who is one person you can encourage or disciple in their faith journey this week? How can you intentionally support them and share the joy of Christ with them?

Sermon Summary

Peter’s words in 1 Peter 1:1-12 remind us that, as God’s chosen people, we are both exiles in this world and heirs to an imperishable inheritance. God, in His great mercy, has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This hope is not just for the future, but for the present—sustaining us through every trial and hardship. Even though we may suffer grief and face all kinds of trials, these difficulties serve a purpose: they refine and prove the genuineness of our faith, which is more precious than gold.

The reality of suffering often leads us to question why God allows it, especially when He knows all things. Yet, just as a parent chooses to bring a child into a world that includes both pain and joy, God’s love for us compels Him to create and redeem us, knowing that the joy of salvation far outweighs the suffering we endure. The moment a soul turns to Christ, the eternal security and joy that follows makes every hardship pale in comparison.

God does not stand far off from our pain. In Jesus, He entered into our suffering, weeping at the tomb of Lazarus and sweating blood in Gethsemane. He knows our grief intimately and walks with us through it. This is why we can find comfort, peace, and even joy in the midst of suffering—because our Savior has gone before us and made a way for us to be saved.

Faith that endures through trials is proven genuine, and this genuine faith results in praise, glory, and honor when Christ is revealed. Even in the small anxieties and uncertainties of life, like running low on gas in unfamiliar territory, we are reminded to turn to God in prayer and trust. His power shields us, and His presence fills us with inexpressible and glorious joy.

This joy is not just for ourselves, but is meant to overflow into the lives of others. As we celebrate new life in Christ—through baptism, discipleship, and community—we participate in the Great Commission, helping others to know the love and salvation found in Jesus. Let us be so filled with Christ that there is no room for darkness, and let our joy in salvation motivate us to disciple others, revealing God’s glory and expanding His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Suffering is not meaningless; it is the crucible in which faith is refined and proven genuine. Just as gold is purified by fire, our faith is tested and strengthened through trials, making it more precious and enduring. The pain we experience is not wasted, but is used by God to prepare us for greater joy and glory in Christ. [39:01]
2. God’s love for us is like the love of a parent who chooses to bring a child into a world of both beauty and brokenness. The risk of suffering is outweighed by the joy of relationship and the hope of salvation. In the same way, God’s desire for us to know Him and experience His love is greater than the temporary pain we endure. [42:15]
3. Jesus fully understands our suffering because He entered into it Himself. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus and agonized in Gethsemane, showing that God is not distant from our pain but is present with us in it. This shared experience is the foundation of our comfort and hope, knowing that our Savior walks with us through every trial. [46:08]
4. Genuine faith is revealed not in the absence of trials, but in our response to them. When we turn to God in prayer and trust, even in moments of anxiety and uncertainty, we experience His shielding power and sustaining grace. These moments become opportunities for God to reveal His faithfulness and for us to grow in joy and peace. [52:14]
5. The joy of salvation is inexpressible and glorious, overflowing from our hearts into the lives of others. As we disciple and encourage new believers, we participate in God’s mission and experience the fullness of joy that comes from seeing others come to faith. Our calling is to be so filled with Christ that there is no room for darkness, and to let our joy motivate us to bring others into God’s kingdom. [56:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:23] - New Birth and Living Hope
[39:01] - The Purpose of Suffering
[39:38] - The Prophets and the Gospel
[40:13] - Prayer and Rejoicing in Worship
[41:00] - Wrestling with the Question of Suffering
[42:15] - The Risk and Joy of Parenthood
[44:10] - Peter’s Warning: Trials and Grief
[44:51] - How God Understands Our Pain
[46:08] - Jesus Weeps and Suffers With Us
[47:36] - The Testing and Proving of Faith
[48:54] - A Modern Trial: The Gas Tank Story
[52:14] - Joy and Peace in the Midst of Trials
[54:17] - God’s Shielding Power
[55:30] - The Call to Disciple and Support
[56:49] - Filled With Joy, Motivated to Disciple
[58:08] - Living Into the Kingdom and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living Hope in the Midst of Suffering
_Based on 1 Peter 1:1-12 and the sermon summary provided_

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Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:1-12 (ESV)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

John 11:33-36 (ESV)
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Luke 22:43-44 (ESV)
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

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Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 1:3-5, what kind of inheritance do believers have, and how is it described?
In the sermon, what purpose does Peter say suffering and trials serve in the life of a believer? [[39:01]]
How does the sermon describe Jesus’ response to human suffering, especially at the tomb of Lazarus? [[46:08]]
What does Peter say is the result of faith that endures through trials? [[47:36]]

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Interpretation Questions

The sermon compares God’s love for us to a parent’s love for their child, even knowing the child will face pain. What does this analogy reveal about God’s motives in creating and redeeming us? [[42:15]]
How does Jesus’ experience of grief and suffering (John 11:33-36; Luke 22:43-44) change the way believers can view their own pain? [[46:08]]
The sermon says that faith is “more precious than gold” and is proven genuine through trials. Why might God value faith that has been tested? [[39:01]]
The pastor shared a story about running low on gas in unfamiliar territory. What does this story illustrate about trusting God in everyday anxieties? [[49:32]]

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Application Questions

Think about a recent trial or hardship you’ve faced. In what ways did it challenge or strengthen your faith? Did you see any evidence of your faith being “refined” through it? [[39:01]]
The sermon says that God’s love for us is like a parent’s love, willing to risk pain for the sake of relationship. How does this perspective affect the way you view your own suffering or the suffering of those you love? [[42:15]]
Jesus entered into our suffering and grief. When you are hurting, do you find it easy or hard to believe that God is with you and understands your pain? What would help you remember this truth in difficult moments? [[46:08]]
The pastor’s story about running out of gas ended with prayer and trust in God. Is there a current situation in your life where you need to turn to God in prayer instead of anxiety? What would it look like to do that this week? [[49:32]]
Peter says our faith should result in “inexpressible and glorious joy.” When was the last time you felt this kind of joy in your relationship with Jesus? What contributed to it? [[53:34]]
The sermon challenges us to let our joy in salvation overflow into discipling others. Who is one person you could encourage or disciple in their faith this month? What is a practical step you could take? [[56:49]]
The pastor said, “Let us be so filled with Christ that there is no room for darkness.” Are there areas in your life where you feel darkness creeping in? What would it look like to invite Christ’s presence into those areas? [[56:49]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for one another, especially for those going through trials, and to ask God for a deeper experience of His living hope and joy.

Sermon Clips

How many of you have ever wondered why we suffer? Nobody. Raise their hand on that. Okay, most of you have. Good. I'm in the right place today. Amen. The question I often used to ask myself was, since God is omnisient, which means he knows everything, why would he create humans when he knows we're going to suffer? Why would he want us to exist when some of the time we spent on this earth is filled with suffering and sadness? What purpose could we possibly have for existing? [00:40:53]

Because what I've learned is being a parent takes risk. You're risk takingaking the risk of bringing a child into an imperfect world filled with sin, filled with trials, filled with tribulation. They're going to suffer. They're going to face darkness. They're going to face pain. Yet, you also get to experience that moment when they invite Christ into their heart. That moment where you see that light enter. That moment that helps you to realize that all that suffering, all that pain, everything they have to face pales in comparison to the moment they come to know Jesus for themselves. [00:42:28]

He knows we're going to face darkness. He knows we're going to face pain. He knows we're going to face suffering. But the bright light of Christ in us causes all of that to pale in comparison to the hope and joy we would find in him. to the way that we can rejoice in his presence. [00:44:03]

But that comes with a warning. Peter warns us today along with all the believers to whom he writing. He's writing to Jewish and Gentile believers in Pontis, Galatia, Capidoshia, Western Asia Minor and Bethia. that for a little while we will have to face suffer grief and all kinds of trials. But God is helping us to know that we he understands our pain. [00:44:31]

What we discover is that he has experienced it too through his time on earth with us. Jesus knows and understands our suffering because he has experienced it. If you have your Bibles, we're going to look at Johnap 11. We're going to be in verses 33-36. So, if you have your Bibles, you can turn there. If not, I'll read it to you. John 11:33-36. When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [00:44:58]

Jesus weeps, knowing that he has power over death. Knowing that he's going to bring Lazarus back to life, knowing that death doesn't have the final state say, Jesus still weeps because he grieavves our human loss. He grieavves that we have to face death. He grieavves for Mary's pain. He grieavves because he also is experiencing our human emotion. [00:46:00]

You see, God understands us. Because he's gone through it, too. We move to the book of Luke. In the garden of Gethsemane, the night that he was betrayed, he sweated blood. He was so distressed by the pain and suffering, the abandonment that he would face. He was so troubled by what he would have to go through. He sweated droplets of blood. That's Luke 22:43-44. God understands our grief. God understands our suffering. [00:46:39]

That's how we can find comfort, peace, joy, and hope in him. Because in the midst of all of that, he has made a way for us to be saved. The salvation of our souls is something that which we can find ultimate rejoicing in. We get to spend eternity in heaven in the presence of Jesus if we've accepted him as our Lord and Savior. [00:47:22]

But through our suffering, the genuiness of our faith is proven. The faith that is worth more than gold. Peter explains, "If we're able to hold on to our faith during our trials, during our suffering, then our faith is proven genuine. If we turn from him, if we blame him, if we fall away from him, that tests the genuiness of our faith. But when our faith is found to be genuine, it leads to praise, glory, and honor when Christ Jesus is revealed." [00:47:44]

A genuine faith that stands the test of trials and tribulations is priceless because it re results as joy now in the midst of our suffering. leads to peace, leads to eternity. The joy we always hope we receive, we receive in Christ. Without that joy, our days would be filled with sadness and pain. But the joy we have in the Lord enables us to overcome all the darkness we face and find hope in him. [00:52:46]

That's when we truly see and understand that following Jesus is about so much more than just heaven for eternity. Following Jesus, having genuine faith brings us joy and peace in the midst of our great tribulations. Now, the joy of our salvation, the joy of forgiveness of our sins is described by Peter today in the scripture as being inexpressable and glorious. [00:53:26]

As many years as I have spent trying to describe it, I have discovered that I have never fully been able to never ceases to amaze me. Whenever I begin to talk about this joy I have in Jesus, I always find I have more to say about it. and to the faith we have in God. We are shielded by God's power. His power shields us from the attacks of the evil one. His power shields us. [00:54:03]

That's what I experienced yesterday when I kept looking at my gas gauge. That's an attack. When I kept worrying about if we were going to make it to a gas station or not, that's another attack. when I kept having to fight anxiety and that sweat you feel because you don't know what you're going to do next. Those are attacks from the devil. God's power shields us if we let it. [00:54:29]

We always have to be filled with Christ. So, we can't allow anything else to have lordship over us. Today, we got a chance to celebrate a baptism. One of my most favorite things about being a pastor. As a family, as a congregation, you're making a commitment to support and encourage and disciple Jennifer in her faith. As a faith community, this is a pivotal moment in her life because we are filling the great commission by baptis baptizing and then discipling. [00:55:25]

We can't stop at baptism. We can't stop at a moment of salvation whenever it comes. We have to disciple, disciple, disciple. We have to teach her about God's love. We have to teach her about the salvation she can find in Jesus. We have to help her to know Jesus as her savior and help others to know it as well. And that is an area in which we find sal we find joy in our own salvation when we lead other people to it too. [00:55:59]

So today we get to begin to rejoice in eternity. We get to find true joy here and now in the salvation we find in Jesus Christ. So let us here and now be filled with Jesus so much that there is no room for darkness in our hearts. Here and now. Let us find so much joy in our salvation that we are truly motivated to disciple others into God's kingdom here and now. [00:56:41]

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Rejoicing in Heaven: Finding Joy Through Trials and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Living Hope Through Christ’s Resurrection

Day 2: God Understands Our Suffering

Day 3: Genuine Faith is Refined Through Trials

Day 4: Joy and Peace in the Midst of Suffering

Day 5: Discipling Others Brings Deeper Joy

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Rejoicing in Heaven: Finding Joy Through Trials and Faith

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