Dear friends, today I want to talk about a part of 1 Peter that has been very powerful in my life. It is a truth that God proved to me over the course of a year and a half, and is in fact, still showing me. What I’m about to share with you has been powerful and life-changing. It proved to me that I truly could stand on God’s Word and trust Him to do what He says. Even if I didn’t completely feel I could believe the promise, I stepped out in faith with a heart desire to fully believe it. Astonishingly, God honored my action with astounding faithfulness.

I’ve shared in the past how difficult 2014 was for me. Health issues combined with a very real battle for my mind took me into a dark night of the soul, a spiritual battle, that God allowed in order to get rid of the lies the enemy had subtly inflicted upon me from a young age. God replaced them with His truth and has healed so many of those heartaches. I share more of this journey in the book I’m working on and what God did to bring healing and transformation. But one part I want to share today as part of our study of the books of Peter.

During the most difficult part of what I walked through, Abba brought me to this verse among many to write in my journal, to read over and over again and to pray and claim the truth over my life. 

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. — 1 Peter 5:6-10 NIV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober- minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 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. — 1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV

These verses became a lifeline of hope for me. And I want to share them with you. The first part, Peter says to humble yourself. I knew God was my only way to get through what I was dealing with. I wanted this time of trial to end so much, but had to trust Abba had a plan and would show me the way (Prov. 3:5-6). This was a daily effort, my friends, and I held tight to the promise that in time, God would lift me up. I prayed, spoke it out loud, and even reminded God of His promise.

I learned to give Him everything. The word “cast” in the Greek translation literally and figuratively means to throw upon. This is not a polite gesture, my friends. We are not supposed to wrap it in a bow and try to “pretty it up.” God knows what we struggle with and He cares for us, deeply. 

And Peter says all. Every heartache, every thought, every worry, every anxiety, because His Word says He cares for us. Next week I will tell you what happened when I did this. I am already praying that what I have to share will encourage you and help build your faith as Jesus intends our testimonies to do. Not easy sharing this stuff but the one thing I ask Abba at the start of this was, "If I have to go through this, then let me have a testimony to share and help others."

And that He did. He does that for all of us, dear friends! All of us!

Love you so much,