December 20th 2025

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Peter writes to believers who have never physically seen Jesus—people very much like us. They did not walk the dusty roads of Galilee or witness the resurrection firsthand. Yet Peter affirms something remarkable: their love for Christ is real, their faith is genuine, and their joy is overflowing.

This passage reminds us that faith is not rooted in sight, but in trust. Loving Jesus without seeing Him may feel like a disadvantage, but Peter presents it as a source of inexpressible and glorious joy. Why? Because faith connects us to a living hope that is not dependent on circumstances, emotions, or proof we can touch.

Notice that Peter says we are receiving the salvation of our souls—not merely waiting for it someday. Salvation is both future and present. Even now, as we trust Christ, God is actively at work forming us, sustaining us, and filling us with joy that points beyond this world.

In seasons of hardship, doubt, or silence from God, this joy becomes an anchor. It reminds us that faith is not about what we see, but about who we trust—and that trust leads us toward the ultimate outcome: full and final salvation in Christ.

- Corey Goss