ODJ: victorious faith


January 7, 2013 

READ: 1 Peter 1:5-7 

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world (v.7).


Tukutana, the nonprofit organisation I direct in East Africa, is funding the education of a young lady named Acayo Sarah. She survived one of Africa’s longest running wars in history, but not without wounds. When Sarah was just 13 years old the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) rebels attacked her village in northern Uganda. After killing her mother and father in front of her, the ruthless men abducted, raped and impregnated Sarah. Just before her baby was born, Sarah managed to escape from her captors and fled to her uncle’s village.
As I’ve got to know Sarah in the aftermath of the horrors that stripped her of family and innocence, I have developed the deepest respect for the teenage girl. Sarah’s joy and determination to complete school—so she can devote her future to helping others—shouts the essence of 1 Peter 1:5-7:


• Your faith will be visible to all (v.5).


• Wonderful joy lies ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while (v.6).


• Your trials will lead to genuine faith (v.7).


• Your strong faith, through trials, will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world (v.7).


I marvel at Sarah’s faith and strength in Jesus Christ—faith that has been proven victorious over the darkest of crimes committed against her (Romans 8:37). Indeed, Sarah confidently trusts the Lord to take care of her (Psalm 27:1-3).


When trials come our way, let’s be careful not to throw away our confident trust in the Lord. Instead let’s ask God for the patient endurance that we need to face the tough times. —Roxanne Robbins