Getting a Grip When it all hurts Part 1 040114
1 Peter 5:6-11 ESV
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. [11] To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Wonderful words of encouragement and admonition. But what do you do with it when it all hurts, when there is no sense of hope although you know there is a reason to? What do you do when you read this and walk away empty and hollow?
First you realize that Satan will do all he can to create that hollowness and deepen it. Whether through the world or the flesh he will use every means he can to deepen your despair. We're not cut out to fight him ourselves but we must call upon - cry out for God to save us from this sense of hopeless sinking. We must let God fight that battle for us and that is not easy.
Satan will do everything in his power to cast you down and to crush you. One of his ploys is to isolate you from the Body. We all know that in times of trouble people seem to withdraw, run, move away not wanting to be too close to the one in distress. Now we can't blame them and we also know that we withdraw as well. We, for whatever reason (shame, embarrassment even fear) want to hide away and curl up in a ball and disappear.
Satan wants us to be isolated - he doesn't hunt the herd but rather the solitary and wounded. So when you are wounded and in despair it is making the situation worse if you curl in a ball in a corner.
Satan also wants to chase us into greater distress. That's why he is roaring. He wants us to run from him to where the rest of the pride is. The pride is in the deep grass waiting for us to run into the middle of them so they may take us down. We must not run. We must slowly move in a safe direction and the only one who can show us that safe direction is God.
Satan also wants to get us to murmur - to complain about God as the Israelites did in the wilderness. He wants us to complain about God and His treatment of us. He wants us to deny God's goodness, His lovingkindness, His whole character. He wants us to accuse God of wrong doing, of meanness, of hard heartedness or the typical - He's not fair.
All this and more Satan desires to do. It is very very hard to stand in the face of a roaring lion but by the grace and power of God, we must. Like Daniel we must stand among the hungry beasts and trust in God. We must by the grace and mercy of God resist running - resist isolation - resist shame - resist murmuring.
None of us are the only believers who suffer. Some suffer more and some less but suffering is suffering and when we are suffering ours is the only one we feel. But Peter seems to indicate that knowing that we are not the only ones who suffer will be of benefit to us. That's a hard thing but a true thing. God is at work in the lives of countless believers and we should praise Him for that fact. The starving, the oppressed, the persecuted are all trusting Him for so much more than the rest of us and they are holding fast - they've got a grip - faith.
Faith - faith that He can relieve us of our suffering. Faith that it is meant for His glory. Faith that it is meant for our good. Faith that even if it kills us, as it does many, we will then be with Him, at peace and forever without suffering.
Heaven is not a consolation prize for those whose suffering kills them. Heaven is the glorious reward that awaits those who are His and barring His coming prior to, death is the ony way to heaven.
I'll write more on this passage as I am able - but have faith my friends God is with you and for you - He wants to display His glory through, in and by your circumstances. It is hard - at times is seems hopeless but I have to ask myself: For what am I really hoping, treasuer here or treasure there? The comfort of the world or the comfort of His grace. It is a real battle - get a grip on His truth and providence and do not let go.
