1 Peter 1:6-9  (NLT)

⁶ So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

⁸ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. ⁹ The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

1 Kings 17:1-5 (NLT)

1 Kings 17:8-10 (NLT)

What is the Real Reward?

For the author, the reward is not having a best-selling book. The reward is the act of writing.

For the athlete, the reward is not winning a championship. The reward is the opportunity to compete and to fight for something you care about.

For the entrepreneur, the reward is not owning a million-dollar business. The reward is building something of value where nothing existed previously.

For the artist, the reward is not showing your work in a top gallery or hearing the praise of critics. The reward is the act of creating something new.

"If people knew how hard I worked to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful." --Michelangelo

Isaiah 43:1-3(NLT)