Even Trials Can Be A Pleasure With God

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Today’s reading: 1 Peter 1:3-7

A few years ago I read about a simple, informal test that parenting experts recommend for checking the developmental maturity of young children: simply put a cookie in front of a child and tell him he can eat it — but promise him 2 more cookies if he will wait 30 minutes.

If the child waits, she passes the test.

After I learned about this test, I asked permission of several parents I know to try it out on their kids. They all were eager to see how their children would do. Most predicted failure, as did I.

But the kids surprised us. Every last one of them happily waited for their two cookies. 

Curiously, when I tried the test on several of the adults in my life, at least half of them failed.

“30 minutes!” one friend exclaimed. “I’m not going to wait around for that long just for a couple of extra cookies.”

So I upped the stakes. I offered him $5 along with the two extra cookies.

He just laughed and ate the one cookie. “I don’t want to take your money,” he said.

Today’s reading brings all this to mind again. This test is a very simple version of the struggles of my life (or anyone’s life). No one ever has ever put me to this test, per se, so I’m not exactly sure how I would do. But if my life to date is any indication I think I would probably pass. Thanks be to God, I’m sort of getting good at patiently waiting for “deferred gratification.” I won’t claim perfection, of course, but I don’t see any harm in striving for that.

When I find myself becoming impatient — or even losing a sense of hope —  I just return to the story of Jesus.  Thinking of the eternal glory that resulted from that cruel, “hopeless” day, gives me all the motivation I need to overcome any wait myself.

“By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials.” (Verses 3-6)

Thanks be to God for endless life. May I always remember to enjoy it — even the trials — in eternal remembrance of Jesus and his glorious glorious gift.