1 Peter 5:7-11. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
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. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Now that you have been saved by the blood of Christ, do not misunderstand who you are. Do not allow anything to define your identity apart from who you are in Christ.
Do not be deceived by the devil any longer. He will try to mislead you through both success and failure. In times of success, he will tempt you toward pride and boasting instead of gratitude to God. In times of failure, he will try to pull you into discouragement. He will also use your present circumstances to lead you into unbelief.
Above all, the devil uses his original tactic against humanity: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). He will try to convince you that you can deceive God, when in reality, you are only deceiving yourself.
You will reap what you sow. If you live to gratify your sinful nature, the result will be destruction. But if you live by the Spirit, the result will be eternal life (Galatians 6:7–8). Remember, the devil is the father of lies, and everything he speaks is false (John 8:44).
So be careful when you begin to think, “I can do this on my own.” Everything you are and everything you have is possible only through Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who dwells in you, guiding and empowering you. You are what you are by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10). Therefore, in every moment, live in the finished work of salvation with thanksgiving.
But when hardships come, how should you respond?
First, understand that suffering was not part of God’s original design. God created us for true happiness, giving us a unique identity and authority in Him (Genesis 1:27–28).
Human suffering began with the entrance of Satan, the introduction of sin, and the fall from God’s glory (Genesis 3:1–20). And apart from God’s solution, suffering continues even into eternity (Luke 16:19–30).
Original sin brought spiritual death to humanity (Ephesians 2:1). The devil claimed authority over mankind (John 8:44) and has worked to control human lives from the beginning (Ephesians 2:2). As a result, people live under oppression, in the shadow of hell (Acts 10:38).
But God, in His love, sent the True King to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). He sent the True Priest to break the curse of sin and end our suffering (1 Peter 3:18). He sent the True Prophet to bring us back to God, delivering us from the background of hell (John 14:6).
Only the One who fulfills all three roles—True King, True Priest, and True Prophet—could solve humanity’s fundamental problem. The Anointed One. The Christ. His name is Jesus. And on the cross, He finished that work completely (John 19:30).
When Jesus died and rose again, everything about our sin and suffering was dealt with. He was punished for our wrongdoing. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was placed upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Though we had all gone astray, God laid our sins upon Him (Isaiah 53:6–7).
Jesus carried our weaknesses and bore our suffering. He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases (Matthew 8:15–17). If you are a child of God, your problems and sufferings no longer define you. Jesus already nailed them to the cross.
God now allows difficulties in your life not as punishment, but as part of His greater plan—a new beginning, a new direction, a new hope, and a new future (Jeremiah 29:11). So cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
Be alert. The devil will still try to deceive you through your circumstances. Lay down your own thoughts and ways (Galatians 2:20). God’s thoughts and ways are far higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8–9). Live by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave Himself for you.
Do not treat Jesus as a mere guest in your life. He is worthy to be your Lord and Master. When He truly reigns in your life, He will do what you could never imagine—transforming even the ordinary into something extraordinary, like turning water into wine (John 2:1–10).
Remember, the sufferings you face are not unique—they are common to all God’s children. In His grace, God has called you not only to believe in Christ but also to share in His glory. Though you may suffer for a little while, God Himself will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10).
God will sustain you and keep you from falling. Do not simply endure your suffering—seek to discover God’s purpose through His Word. When you do, you will find that you can even rejoice in every circumstance. And through it all, your Father will be glorified.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the troubles and sufferings You have allowed in my life. Because of what Jesus has accomplished on the cross, I now declare that these problems are not obstacles, but the beginning of Your blessings. I believe that after I have suffered for a little while, You will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast. In Jesus’ name, Amen.