A LITTLE WHILE

by Tammy Phillips
November 5, 2020

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…”

I thank God for sisters in Christ who speak words of encouragement into my heart.  A few days ago, a sister spoke 1 Peter 1 and specifically verse 6 to me.  Like a song on the radio, “a little while” had been on replay in my head over and over again.

Throughout scripture we hear… “a little while.”

A little while and the wicked shall be no more… 

[A Psalm] of David. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret–[it] only [causes] harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:1-9 NKJV)

For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. (Psalm 37:10 NKJV)

A little while… be strong and do not fear! The Lord will shake the earth, and all will come to Jesus, the Desire of All Nations…

Be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work; for I [am] with you,’ says the LORD of hosts…My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more it is a little while I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;  ‘and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:7 NKJV) (Haggai 2:4-6 NKJV)

A little while, endure, Jesus is coming and will not tarry…

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:  “For yet a little while, [And] He who is coming will come and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:36-37 NKJV)

A little while, Jesus went away, returned and sorrow was turned in to joy….

 “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.” 19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?  “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. … 22 “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. (John 16:18-20, 22 NKJV)

A little while, you have been grieved by various trials…

“… who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 1:5-7 NKJV)

 We greatly rejoice which means leap and jump for joy.  Why?  We are kept by the power of God through faith through the trials to endure until Jesus comes again in a little while.

We endure “a little while.” The Greek word for this phrase is oligos which is puny!  Puny in extent, degree, number, duration or value brief, short!   The trials might be heavy, grievous, sorrowful, but they are puny in Him.  God allows us to endure through faith to show us that our faith is more precious to him than gold.  Our faithfulness brings praise and honor and glory to our King.

I enCOURAGE you grab hold of God’s “a little while.”  A little while is nothing in light of eternity.