"To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.
But I tell you, Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him,
but have done to him everything they wished.
In the same way the Son of Man
is going to suffer at their hands."
(Matthew 17:11-12)
The day has come for the Lord Jesus to restore all things. Like Jesus, we may have gone through the path of persecution, pain, and suffering so that we may learn, understand, and accept His plan of salvation over the life He has given us in this world.
God's will may involve hardship and suffering, but it will surely lead to ultimate fulfillment and glory. His glory can only be understood through the Cross and Resurrection. Glory without the Cross is incomplete. Glory comes, but only through the path of surrender. We don’t need to see the whole plan to keep walking with Jesus.
The disciples have just seen Jesus in dazzling glory, yet the very next words they hear are about suffering, silence, and misunderstood prophecy. It’s a reminder that in the spiritual life, mountaintop moments and valley trials are not opposites—they belong together.
Maybe today we are carrying both light and burden. Maybe we have glimpsed God’s goodness but still walk through something unclear or painful. It is during these times when the Lord invites us to trust that His work in our lives is unfolding even when we don’t fully understand it. Like John the Baptist’s hidden faithfulness, preparation often happens quietly,
Lord, help me recognize Your presence in both the shining moments and the difficult ones. Teach me to trust the slow unfolding of Your plan and give me the courage of John the Baptist—to prepare the way for You in my heart and in the world.
