1 Peter 1:6-9

“The Christian's joy is bound up with love to Jesus: its ground is faith; it is not therefore neither self-seeking or self-sufficient" [STEIGER]. Our salvation carries us through our suffering. So often how we come to know what is real is by going through these times of heaviness and hardship. That is when our faith is refined, being much more precious than gold that perishes. Our security must be found in Christ and not in our relationships, career, accomplishments, possessions, or anything else. None of that is lasting. We must rather look to things above and fix our gaze on our steadfast hope in God.