Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
I was just thinking on those words this morning.
We don’t have to strive to be accepted by God.
We already are.
We are already at peace with him.
How much does that change our perspective when hard times come?
We don’t have to worry that we are being punished by God.
Instead, we can know that God is with us in the fire and that he will use those trials for our good to bring about endurance, proven character, and hope in us.
So in the midst of that fire, rejoice!
We are already accepted.