The Valley Before the Victory

“BIn all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” – 1 Peter 1:6-7 As soon as God promises great blessings, circumstances often grow harder. For instance, Abraham was 75 years old when he received the word that he would be a father, but he didn’t see its fulfillment until he was 100. Then there’s Joseph. The Lord gave him a great vision of his future, and he was immediately sold into slavery, where his life unraveled further.  Even the ones whom Jesus healed, though we look at them and see that they were instantly made well, had been praying, believing, and seeking