Not Always Easy

<p>God’s plan is good. We don’t have to worry when it seems like things aren’t going well. We can be patient because we can know that God is still good, and He is still on the throne.</p><p>.</p><p>Remember people like Paul and Peter, who were put in prison for their faith in Jesus. Even when they were locked up and put in chains, they didn’t lose hope. They kept praising God. More than once, He got them out of dangerous situations so they were free again. Eventually, both Paul and Peter were imprisoned one last time... and put to death. But death will not have the last word, because Jesus has promised to return bodily to earth and raise us from the dead, and everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will live with Him forever in restored creation!</p><p>.</p><p>God’s ultimate plan to redeem the world cannot be thwarted. Though our lives aren’t always easy, we have the sure hope of eternity with Jesus. Before then, we might not get relief from our suffering, at least not in the way we hoped, but He is still good.</p><p>.</p><p>When Christians like Paul and Peter were released from prison, they could have gone on to live easy lives. They could have thought that they’d done enough for God and could just relax and try not to get caught again. But instead, they went on spreading the good news about Jesus: that He is the Messiah, and He died for us and rose from the grave so that all who believe in Him could be saved. Paul and Peter both continued to serve God despite the challenges they knew they would face because of it.</p><p>.</p><p>Following Jesus is not always easy. While we might not go through the same things Paul and Peter did, this life on earth still isn’t perfect and people can be cruel. We will face many challenges that come, not just from other people, but also from sicknesses or any kind of setback. But with Jesus, we can get through it all. His love for us never fails. He has compassion on us, and “He comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-11). God knows what’s best for us. He knows what’s