One House : 1 PeterSample

God’s Restoration & Strength

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. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10–11 ESV

In the first chapter of this letter, prior to any mention of suffering, Peter had focused all his attention on hope. “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13 ESV). This was no accident.

Hope, strengthened by faith, is what sustains believers through trials and suffering. In today’s passage, Peter ends his letter with the same idea. Though we may suffer for ‘a little while,’ God will personally restore, strengthen, and establish us in his eternal kingdom. This promise was true for Peter’s original audience, and it’s true for every believer today. Though suffering in this life is guaranteed, we have a promise from God that he himself will restore what is broken within us and bring us into his eternal glory.

Peter closes with a doxology (an expression of praise), professing his trust in God’s eternal dominion. Dominion simply means God’s sovereign rule over creation. After all that’s been said about suffering, Peter ultimately rests in the fact that God’s rule over the world is good.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28 (ESV)