Receiving Gods Promises
I was re-reading one of my most encouraging passages, I Peter 5:10, when the Lord brought my attention to the verses before. We know we need to take a whole passage in context- not just a single verse. What God showed me really got me fired up.
These verses build on each other in a teaching of overcoming trials and attacks – and turning out well. It starts in verse six with instructions to humble ourselves before God so He can uplift us in due time. Now notice in verse ten that He says, after our brief suffering….He will set us in our place. These verses are a complete teaching of God's plan for how we end up and must be looked at together.
The promise of being restored, made stronger, and set in our place is directly related to humbling ourselves before God. How do you do that, you may ask. Look at verse seven (I love it in The Passion Translation). We show humility before God by casting all our cares over to Him and leaving them there. How many times do we pray over a matter, commit it to God, and then pick it back up as soon as we get off our knees?
I have been guilty of that as well but not anymore. I have learned that only one of us can carry the problem. If I take it back- an act of unbelief- God has to let it go. This is something I don’t think many understand. He cares about it, but cannot act without our faith and surrender. By continuing to carry the worry and stress of an issue we are really saying we do not trust Him to take care of it. This is not meant to be a criticism- none of us mean it that way- but think about it. Psalms 50:15 TPT, says we honor God when we trust Him in our day of trouble.
Keep this in mind as you carry on down to verses eight and nine. Here we are told how to resist the enemy who is causing the troubles. We take a decisive stand and resist him with strong vigorous faith. So where does this strong vigorous faith come from? Now you're getting it. From humbling yourself and casting all the care of it over to Jesus. When you leave it with Him you are trusting that His word is true and it is settled. He will fight the battle for you so you can live your life in peace. This is very similar to James 4:7 which tells us to submit to God, then resist the devil and he will flee. Submitting is an act of humility.
When we refuse to let go of our troubles and continue to carry the worry of them, we make ourselves open to the devourer looking for his prey. This is especially true if we get angry with God, thinking He can't possibly care because it's not going how WE wanted. We need to be aware of the enemy's tactics and be smarter than him. Trusting God is not only smart, it's peaceful. This is the posture of resisting the enemy and having him flee.
Now comes the wonderful part, verse ten. After my brief suffering, He will personally and powerfully restore me. This is similar to II Corinthians 4:17 where it refers to our light affliction being a mere moment. Brief suffering and light affliction can be frustrating topics for us because we do not, for the most part, think eternity-minded. This is something Jesus has taught me in a big way through this journey of cancer.
When we have a revelation of the concept that our life is but a vapor, appearing for a little while and then vanishing (James 4:14), we will better appreciate the brief suffering. Our time here is a blink in the light of eternity. I have been dealing with cancer for almost seven years my time. It seems long to me and I get frustrated sometimes but when I start worshiping God I get caught up in His time. His love envelops me and I know I am safe in His arms.
My job is to leave the timing in His hands (vs 6), knowing it will be perfect. Meanwhile, I will continue to cast my care and enjoy my peace. I know for a fact, because of His word, that He will restore me, make me stronger than ever, and set me in my place. I believe in His promise.
I Peter 5:6-10 TPT
If you bow low in God's awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands.
Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
Be well-balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.
Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure.
And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.
Love in Christ, Marion
