Living in Difficult Times
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. (NIV)
But may[fn] the God of all grace, who called us[fn] to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (NKJV)
I like the NIV, but I am a NKJV gal.
Observation:
Peter is writing to both Jews and Gentiles who are experiencing persecution from Nero, who hated Christians. Peter anticipated the persecution would worsen and sought to encourage believers to hold steadfast to their faith even in suffering and trying to live in a natural world.
Application:
As believers, we may feel like we are unduly facing difficult times, but this verse reminds us to stand strong in our storms and know that God will make us victorious against our enemies. We are not exempt from the enemy's plans, plots, schemes, and devices. His job is to keep you from the destiny God has wired you to seek. He wants to distract and delay your dreams, but even in our adversity, we can find hope to keep going.
God said He would restore you. In the Greek katartizō means to perfect and make complete. You can be encouraged knowing that God isn’t going to put you back exactly where you were. He is mending you to be what He intended you to be.
He will perfect you
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
God said He would establish you. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines it to bring about, to put in a favorable position, or to move beyond doubt.
He will establish you.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
He will strengthen you.
Psalm 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect.
Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ[fn] who strengthens me.
He will settle you.
God will provide you with a firm foundation. That foundation is in His word and your faith.
1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly father, I now realize that just because I am a Christian, I am not exempt from the enemy's attacks and can resist his advancements. God, I thank you for teaching me that even in my difficulties, I can have a godly response to my enemy's attacks. You have promised me that you would restore, strengthen, establish me and give me a firm foundation of faith to stand upon. Because of this, I no longer have to cower to the cheap tactics of an intimidator, but I can declare my victory in advance. I thank you for the grace to handle my trials and the wisdom to walk through them. I thank you that even during a spiritual battle, you are using every situation to perfect me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Reflection:
Where are you facing a difficult time in your life where you need God to perfect, strengthen, establish and settle you?
