As I woke up this morning, I felt physically tired, and I did not have a sense of joy and peace. I went to the Scripture and read chapter 5 of First Peter; verse 10 in particular got my attention.

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. First Peter 5:10 (ESV)

There are obviously four key words here: Restore, Confirm, Strengthen and Establish. 

1. Restore: This is the Greek word katartízō; meaning, “To adjust, fit, finish, from ártios (739), fit, complete. The fundamental meaning is to put a thing in its appropriate condition, to establish, set up, equip, arrange, prepare, mend.”^[1]
2. Confirm: This is the Greek word sthenóō meaning “To make strong; to make alive; to vitalize, to revive; to prevail, be of strength; to reinforce, to strengthen more.^[2]
3. Strengthen: This is the Greek Word stērízō; meaning “To stand. To set fast, to fix firmly.”^[3]
4. Establish: This is the Greek word themelióō; meaning “Foundational, fundamental. To lay the foundation of anything. To lay even with the ground.”^[4]

Oh, and as I studied these words, I felt that peace that overpasses all understanding^[5] and my bones began to come alive with the joy of my Father. As if this was not enough, the Holy Ghost took me to First Peter 1:7-9 and say,

so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. First Peter 1:7-9 (ESV)

Thank you Father for your Word, thank you for this new day. No matter the challenges, no matter the way of the world, the political and cultural atmosphere of this nation; the pain we feel for our love ones who are lost, our enemies who hate us just because we love you… Oh Father, my trust is in you and in you I find restoration, I find the revival of my soul, I find strengthen and a firm and secure foundation. In Jesus name… Amen

^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[2] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[3] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[4] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[5] Philippians 4:7