All to Him I Owe

I want to draw your attention to the word manifold in I Peter 1:6 which says, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.”

The largest stained glass window in the world, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, resides in Resurrection Cemetery, Justice, Illinois. Pickel Studio created this window using over 22,000 square feet of faceted glass. It contains 2,448 panels. Each of the 2,448 panels are individually designed and uniquely different from all the other panels. In describing the panels, we could say that the window has a manifold collection of panels.

God teaches us that the difficulties or trials we face in life are a part of a manifold collection. Each one is unique to the individual and different from the trials that others face. God looks at the unique needs of our life and chooses a trial that is specifically chosen to try our faith.

When trials come, don’t be overwhelmed with the unique trials that God places in your life. He has a special resource to you that is as uniquely designed as your trial is. The Greek word for manifold is found one other time in the book of I Peter. In chapter 4 verse 10, it is used to describe God’s grace. The combination of these two verses using these two words teaches us that God has manifold grace for your manifold trials!

The wonderful message of God’s grace is that in addition to what we pack ourselves to help us think right during trials, God has personally packed a special dose of grace in our bags that can be used when we respond to trials with humility (I Peter 5:6).