Daily Devotion

For a Little While

Audio

Today is Monday, 19th of May. Let us start with this Collect:

Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

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The Psalm reading appointed for today is Psalm 71:17-21

God, You have taught me from my youth,
And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
¹⁸ And even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.
^19 [j]For Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
God, who is like You?
²⁰ You who have shown me many troubles and distresses
Will revive me again,
And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
²¹ May You increase my greatness and turn to comfort me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.

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The Scripture reading is 1 Peter 1: 3-9.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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Reflection

You may have heard the phrase, “This too shall pass.” Though often mistaken for a Bible verse, it actually originated from ancient Persian wisdom.

Still, the sentiment echoes Scripture, particularly in Peter’s words in this passage:

“…for a little while” (1 Peter 1:6)

When we’re suffering, even short seasons can feel endless. Pain stretches time. But Peter reminds us to view life with eternity in mind. We will live forever, and measured against forever, even our longest trials are only “for a little while.”

But that doesn’t mean suffering is meaningless. Life isn’t just a waiting room—it’s experiential. We are shaped, refined, and stretched by what we walk through.

Peter goes on to say in verse 7 that trials come “so that the tested genuineness of your faith” may be revealed. Like fire refines gold, our challenges test and prove the substance of our faith. In this way, life is educational—a place where we learn who we are and how God is growing us.

More than that, life is probational. God has reserved for us an imperishable inheritance, a reward that will never fade. While salvation is free by grace, it is for us to stay faithful till the end.

Every trial is part of God’s classroom, a training ground for your “forever” life.

And whatever you’re going through now—no matter how distressing—it will be for a little while.

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In Closing

We say the collect for today:

Almighty God,
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: 
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; 
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

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Be blessed by Taize’s Wait for the Lord

Wait for the Lord His day is near
Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart

Link to today’s Morning Office