At first, if you’re not an “elder,” you may think this reading is not for you. That term doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with age; rather, it is believed that elders were chosen because of their mature faith and understanding of Christ’s teachings. It’s helpful to see how elders should handle the flock “God has entrusted” to them. I’m sure we’ve all seen people in positions of authority within the church body who have acted in contrary ways. Isn’t it good to know there is a Biblical direction to follow for those chosen by God?
This reading quickly shifts to include “all of you,” not just elders, in verse 5. Peter’s first letter concludes with an abundance of parting wisdom. What spoke to you and your faith journey? Was it Peter’s reference to humility or grace? What nearly jumped off the page for me was this. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Sounds simple, but it’s not easy. How do we finally let go of those worries without taking them back again?
As a child, I witnessed my mother worrying about one thing or another. She, like many people I’ve known since, seemed to thrive on being in a state of worry. For the most part, the things we worry about are totally out of our control. Yet, for some reason, we hold on to our worries “just in case.”
I was reminded of this just recently when I learned that my father had been rushed to the ICU with a high fever and vitals that were not safe for a man his age. Being thousands of miles away, my first response was, you guessed it, to worry. Thankfully, my next, almost automatic response, was to get on my knees in prayer. I knew it was out of my control, and I gave it to God. That doesn’t mean I stopped thinking about my dad, but it did mean that each time I felt worry creep in, I prayed. Can you relate? This verse is a good one to cling to in those moments. Remember who is in control!
The warning here to “stay alert” is also very telling. We often forget the evil one lurks, just waiting to pounce and fill us with lies. It seems that the devil is getting craftier, disguising himself to appear good while distracting us from our love and devotion toward God. That’s why it’s so important to build up our faith in God. We do this by spending time in His Word and surrounding ourselves with other faith warriors to help us stand strong.
Are you feeling weak and in need of some encouragement from your faith community? Don’t ever be ashamed to ask. As Peter says, “believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” We often try to hide our weaknesses or pretend they aren’t that bad. We are definitely stronger together. Perhaps God is using you to be the encourager for someone else who is struggling.
When we think of all the attributes of God, one that may not be first in mind is kindness. Verse 10 says, “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.” In addition to being powerful, loving, forgiving, just, all-knowing, and wise, God is also kind. It makes sense because one of the fruits of the Spirit is kindness. We can extend kindness to others because Christ lives inside us. Think about that today.
Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, thank you for how you strengthen and encourage me with your presence. Forgive me for those times I let worry distract me. Thank you for standing by, holding me up, and bearing my burdens. May I focus on your kindness and goodness as I humble myself before you. As your grace flows over me, may my heart sing your praises. Draw me closer to you today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thank you. I’ve always been a “worrier”. But over the past few years as I became closer and closer to God, the worry and anxiety has slowly left me. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t still hit me like a ton of bricks sometimes but yes, I start praying for the Lord’s strength and love to get me through.
How fantastic that you have begun to overcome your tendency toward worry. I don’t think it ever goes away totally. But having a trust and reliance on Jesus has made all the difference for me, too. Thank you for sharing!