Now here's something that is at the heart of living the Christian life. In this you

rejoice though now for a little while.

And that little while there means a lifetime.

That doesn't mean, oh, you're only

going to have to experience hardship for a year.

And then on the other side of the year, no more hardship.

This little while is in comparison to eternity.

Paul said exactly the same thing in 2nd Corinthians 4, where it it says this light momentary affliction

is working for us an eternal weight of glory and he meant light and momentary

meaning prison and lifetime.

If necessary, for a little while, if necessary,

you have been grieved by various trials. So various trials means they're not of one kind. There are as

many kinds as our people in this room. Plus, plus, plus. Trials from a wife or a husband who doesn't respond

the way you wish they would. Children who don't write back don't want to write back.

Loss of a job, scandal comes into your life.

Just met recently with a brother who experienced that.

And right on down to a bullet in the head or a knife on your throat.

The range of trials are as many as there are people and troubles

in the world, and you are being grieved by those.

And here's, see if you agree with this,

would you agree that verse six is teaching

that joy and joy in hope, versus 3 to 5 hope, and grief in various trials are

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