Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
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. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11
Have you experienced your enemy prowling around? Do you feel like you’re about to be eaten alive by the challenges and difficult circumstances in your marriage (or life in general)?
1 Peter 5:9 says that you should know that you’re not alone in your suffering. The knowledge that you’re not alone in suffering should, the way I read this verse, give you a reason to resist the enemy and stand firm in your faith in Jesus Christ.
I love how God doesn’t leave us hanging. The very next verses remind us of some important details to remember:
- God is the God of ALL grace.
- We are called to His eternal glory in Christ.
- Suffering has an ending. (And the length is called “a little while.”)
- Restoration comes at the end of suffering.
- God’s form of restoration makes a person strong, firm, and steadfast.
- God’s got the power.
Let’s face it: we live in a fallen world and difficulty is going to come. It’s just a fact of life on planet earth.
Jeff Goins, author and blogger, said this in a post last week: “Without conflict, you don’t have a story. You have a reality show.”
As I read that quote, it made me think about marriage and about our study of 1 Peter on Imperfect Wives Radio.
Maybe some days you feel like your life is like a reality show, with lots of unnecessary and unproductive melodrama.
When you invite God to intervene in your circumstances, however, you allow Him to write your story.
When He writes your story, it becomes infused with grace, glory, and restoration.
When He writes your story, you become strong, firm, and steadfast.
When He writes your story, the outcome has meaning and purpose and beauty in your life and, if you’ll share it with others, it can have the same effect on their lives as well.
Today, invite the Lord into the midst of your conflict and difficulties. Allow Him to give you wisdom, insight and direction. Use what He has given you and watch for the results. You’ll be amazed and grateful and overflowing with praises to Him who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph 3:20, NIV)
Allowing Him to continue to write my story,
Rebecca
Image via FreeRangeStock by Chance Agrella via Every Stock Photo
