Firm Resistance

"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." (1Peter 5:5-9 NKJ)

When I was growing up, if I complained about anything, Mom would respond, "Be thankful for what you have. Look around and there will always be some one who has it worse." As you may realize, mom's words only made me stop complaining, they did not resolve the issue about which I had complained.

Note the Apostle's words in verse 9 above: "knowing the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." Now, Peter was trying to help us understand about suffering and to encourage us to stand firm in our faith when confronted with sufferings. Knowing that others also suffer doesn't assuage my suffering or your suffering, but knowing that suffering happens to everyone should give us a new perspective and resolve.

Things happen and they happen to all of us. When they happen, they are always personal and we tend to exaggerate them beyond reality. To us, our suffering is greater, more pronounced than anyone's and we ask: If he cares for me, why does he allow me to suffer? Only he can answer that question for us, but maybe the suffering is allowed precisely because of the attitude that poses such a question. And suffering brings about humility in ways that nothing else will.

And that is the real issue behind our complaint. Me, my, I -- self-centered -- proud and arrogant. Pride is a tool of the roaring, devouring adversary -- who seeks one goal. He wants to steal, destroy and kill the work of God in you and me. Too many times we resist God -- who resists the proud -- instead of resisting the devil, who wants to destroy us. God wants to exalt us. The devil wants to destroy us. Now, who should we resist?

Hence, our beloved Peter says: "Resist the devil with firm faith." And understand that our suffering may  very well be an act of his roaring, devouring plan. And that answers the question of our complaint. Humble ourselves and cast our care on Christ because he truly cares for us and our situation.

Dear Father, thank you for caring about us and the things we suffer. Empower us with a firm faith to resist the enemy in every case. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Resist the enemy today and cast your care on Christ,