There is peace in our sufferings on this earth. We as children of God have a peace that reprobate man does not have. Peace comes from faith in our God who gives us the hope for eternal life. He assures us that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). Through faith we understand that our afflictions are for our salvation. Through faith, our Father assures us that our current suffering cannot be compared with eternal glory: Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Our Father gives us true faith, so that we can say with Job, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:25, 26).
We find in all of Paul’s writings to the churches and individuals that for the most part, he begins and ends his message with a salutation or farewell that says the following or something similar: “Grace be unto you, and peace,” which is coupled with “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The peace he speaks of always has its source in God alone. Paul understood this very well. Paul knew what suffering was. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33! Paul in this passage makes himself look like a fool for the sake of the gospel. He “boasts” of all his afflictions only to point to the source of his peace in all his afflictions.
We must put our trust in God alone, who does all things for our good. In this as believers we have a peace that passeth all understanding. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6, 7).
RK
Young Calvinists 