“GOD WILL LIFT YOU UP”

6 “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.”

1 Peter 5:6-7

While Christianity remains the largest world religion, many Christians find themselves being on the receiving end of the world's hostility. But such kind of pain is not a reason to give up.

In our opening blog for this series, we learned that in trying times, we must remember how the Lord Jesus handled affliction: with grace and humility.

Verse 6 comes with a promise: if Christians humble themselves before God, He will exalt them at the right time. The term “exalt” means “to raise to dignity, honor, and happiness.” Peter uses this word to encourage his readers to trust in God’s deliverance. While they humble themselves to God and men, Peter says that God will lift them up, and give them inexpressible joy, and honor.

Verse 7 is an invitation to entrust believers’ anxieties to God, which resounds Jesus’ message in the Sermon on the Mount. The word “anxieties” speaks of being pulled apart in opposing directions. Peter’s readers are worried about their situation, which keeps them from witnessing to the lost. So, he gives an invitation to trust God because God cares. God is genuinely concerned for believers’ welfare because He is their Father.

In context, Peter’s readers were undergoing severe persecution, and some of them had been arrested while others were martyred for their faith in Christ. The Roman world was absolutely hostile to anyone who proclaimed the Gospel. So, Peter invites them to entrust their lives to God and expect Him to lift them up at the right time. He implores them to place their worries in God’s hands because He cares about them.

This loving care is extended to believers of every generation. The Bible presents God as a Father who cares and provides for His children’s needs. Even when believers are mistreated for their faith, God is still with them. In their season of pain, He gives them comfort and hope of future deliverance.

My friend, if you are being bashed for following Christ, do not give up. It is part of your calling. In fact, you can view it as your way of partaking in Christ’s suffering. The good news: when you humble yourself before God, He will lift you up in honor when He returns. He will turn all of your tears into shouts of joy and victory!

Pursue the Savior today!