Problems

Christian was preaching tonight on 1 Peter 1 - the start of a new series in the evenings...

What struck me afresh was what Peter says in verses 6 and 7 - that although I may ask God to remove my problems, God may let them remain... and in praising Him in the midst of my problems (because He is God, not because of how I feel), I grow and understand Him better. And so I learn to rely on Him, and as gold is refined in the fire, so I am refined and become ever closer to how He intended me to be.

I love the way the NLT puts it...
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.