Something to remember in times of trials and tribulations

By Christopher Thompson CONTRIBUTOR

In the book of 1 Peter (NIV), chapter 4, verses 12-14 and chapter 5 verses 6-11, we find these words: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. 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 the family of believers throughout the world is 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.”

We have all experienced difficulties in our lifetime – the rich and the poor, the saint and the sinner. No one has been exempted. Within these verses we find the instructions given by Peter to the believers who were being persecuted. Peter understood what the believers were going through because he too had been beaten, threatened, punished, and jailed for preaching the Word of God.

Today our persecutions may take a different form. We may be shunned, talked about, or made fun of by family and friends. We may have our entire life laid bare for the world to see via all forms of social media.

If you are going through right now, you may be asking yourself, “Why me?” or “What have I done to deserve this?” These and many other questions have been asked and will probably continue being asked when we experience difficulties in or life.

As you are going through your trials, I want you to follow these instructions and watch how God will use what is meant to keep you down as a tool to elevate you.

Peter starts out by telling us that when we are going through that we need to:

• Rejoice, because we are not going through it alone. Know that Christ is with us, and that God’s glory is being revealed in and through us.

• Humble ourselves, God will exalt us in due time.

• Cast our anxieties on him, because God cares for us.

• Discipline ourselves and keep alert, because the devil is doing his job (stealing, killing and destroying).

• Resist the adversary, because you don’t want to lose your place in paradise/heaven. It can be hard not to fight back when things happen, but if we set our minds on God through rejoicing because things are happening, humbling ourselves that God is able to rise in us, casting our anxieties on His shoulders taking the stress off of us, discipling and keeping ourselves alert that we can see what the enemy is up to, and resisting the temptation to fall into the trap, God will raise us high above the situation and show your enemies that they cannot harm or bring down what God is bringing up.

Rev. Dr. Christopher L. Thompson is pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Okatie.