Seventh Sunday of Easter – May 17, 2026
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, 
who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, 
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 
- 1 Peter 5:10 -
Suffering Leads to Glory with Him
Jesus was gone. The disciples were alone. They knew things, but did they know enough? How were they supposed to continue Jesus’ work? How were they supposed to do the miracles, speak the words, teach the lessons that would change people’s lives? They lost their teacher. They left their families, and in many cases couldn’t return because their families had rejected Jesus. The world was opposed to everything they had come to believe. It still opposes our faith today and threatens us, too. We wonder how we will ever be capable of doing what God calls us to do.
The truth is that we are not capable, but there is hope because God promised that He would provide everything we need. He will restore, support, strengthen, and establish us. He is indeed the God of all grace, and He has called us to this life. He has invited us to share in His eternal glory that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. This might mean suffering, but that, too is a gift because in it we share the glory of Jesus. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we have all we need to live in faith and serve God, including other believers who will join us in the work.
We know Jesus Christ because of the testimony of those who came before us and future generations will know Him because we will share our faith with them. We are bound together by the power of the Holy Spirit, made one by God’s Word through God’s grace, continuing the work of Jesus Christ together despite the opposition that threatens our lives. 
This is a reason for us to celebrate. We have reason to dance in the streets. We have reason to praise God with joy, to delight in His presence because we are His forever. He has won the victory. He has defeated our enemies. He has made all things right and we are called to tell the story of His innumerable deeds, His faithfulness, and His power, until we join in His eternal glory as He has promised to those who believe.
Seventh Sunday of Easter – May 17, 2026
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, 
who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, 
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 
- 1 Peter 5:10 -
Suffering Leads to Glory with Him
Jesus was gone. The disciples were alone. They knew things, but did they know enough? How were they supposed to continue Jesus’ work? How were they supposed to do the miracles, speak the words, teach the lessons that would change people’s lives? They lost their teacher. They left their families, and in many cases couldn’t return because their families had rejected Jesus. The world was opposed to everything they had come to believe. It still opposes our faith today and threatens us, too. We wonder how we will ever be capable of doing what God calls us to do.
The truth is that we are not capable, but there is hope because God promised that He would provide everything we need. He will restore, support, strengthen, and establish us. He is indeed the God of all grace, and He has called us to this life. He has invited us to share in His eternal glory that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. This might mean suffering, but that, too is a gift because in it we share the glory of Jesus. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we have all we need to live in faith and serve God, including other believers who will join us in the work.
We know Jesus Christ because of the testimony of those who came before us and future generations will know Him because we will share our faith with them. We are bound together by the power of the Holy Spirit, made one by God’s Word through God’s grace, continuing the work of Jesus Christ together despite the opposition that threatens our lives. 
This is a reason for us to celebrate. We have reason to dance in the streets. We have reason to praise God with joy, to delight in His presence because we are His forever. He has won the victory. He has defeated our enemies. He has made all things right and we are called to tell the story of His innumerable deeds, His faithfulness, and His power, until we join in His eternal glory as He has promised to those who believe.