Observation & Obedience: Suffering is something we don’t usually want to look at or hear about. It makes us uncomfortable and involves pain of some sort. If it’s an abused animal or a hungry child we see on television, our heart may soften and break from the suffering they are enduring.
In His Word for today, Peter is writing to the Jewish Christians who had been driven out of Jerusalem, were now scattered about and being tortured and killed for their faith. His purpose in his first letter was to offer encouragement to these suffering Christ followers. ¹
I doubt any of us can relate to the persecution the early Christians went through. Just as we can’t begin to understand or even imagine how believers are treated in some countries today. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise seeing we were given a heads up in 2 Timothy 3:12: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
One of the reasons for suffering among believers is the work of the enemy. Satan is always looking for weak and helpless victims to attack and destroy. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour(8b). He may not “devour” us in the physical sense, but he can try to initiate emotional and spiritual suffering which may cause destruction.
Is there anything we can do or must we just suffer through? Sometimes God does allow suffering for our own good! Other times though, we can fight back and avoid unnecessary pain. When we find ourselves under the enemy’s attack, here are some action steps we can take:
1) Humble yourselves (v. 6a). God never expects us to take on a fight all alone nor should we think we can. Pride is a tool of destruction from Satan.
2) Cast all your anxiety on him (v. 7a). God knows what we’re up against. Give it to him to handle. Satan uses anxiety to weaken our fight of faith.
3) Stay self-controlled and alert (v. 8a). When does a lion attack? When its prey is not paying attention! If we’re focused on ourselves and our suffering, we forget to watch for danger and put ourselves in harm’s way.
4) Resist him, standing firm in the faith (v.9a). During times of attack and suffering, we must not give in to the temptation or give up the fight, but keep our eyes on Jesus and stand firm. Why? Because we know we’re not alone. One of the enemy’s schemes is to get us to think we’re the only ones thinking or feeling a certain way or enduring difficult times.
Peter reminded the suffering Christians that they were not the only ones under the enemy’s attack… because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (v. 9b).
Once we’ve done our part of humbling ourselves, casting all our anxiety on God, staying in control and alert, resisting the enemy, standing firm in what we believe is true and even suffering for a little while, what does it say in His Word that the God of all grace will do?
Often after a time of suffering, we are weary and weak. God knows that and wants us to know that he knows! He doesn’t just leave us bleeding on the battlefield. He himself will rescue and restore us. He will support and strengthen us. He will place our feet on a firm and steadfast foundation!
Prayer: “Dear God, suffering is not fun and I don’t want to have to go through it. But I also recognize that hard times bring us closer to you, cause us to rely on you more and to depend on your strength to get us through. There are also times when I try to fight my own battles and fail miserably. You have given me action steps I can take to minimize the pain of the enemy’s attacks and today I’m choosing to fight your way! Amen.”
Encouragement: Suffering is unbearable if you aren’t certain that God is for you and with you. Tim Keller
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