LEARNING DAILY

1 Peter 5:6-7, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Peter has been writing about suffering and its purpose. In this last chapter he writes that Believers are to walk in humility, even when in a time of suffering. Peter has written that suffering is to be expected by those who follow Christ, and if a Believer is walking the narrow way as He desires, suffering is according to God’s will and for His glory (4:12-19).  The writer of Hebrews has written that suffering is for a reason – perhaps discipline, perhaps for instruction (Hebrews 12:5-11).

 Believers are to walk through the situation in submission to God’s sovereignty in their life. That means trusting Him and accepting His will for them, no matter what difficulties He allows. Humility does not mean weakness or that one must hate themselves. C.S. Lewis has said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less”. In verse 5, Peter has used Proverb 3:34 to emphasize the need for humility, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. For those who are full of pride, those with an over inflated opinion of themselves, those who are relying on their own righteousness (the I am a good person), God will humble you! It is better to humble ourselves that have God do it for us.

Why do Believers walk the narrow way in humility, submitting themselves under “the mighty hand of God”? because at some time, the proper time, God will exalt them; it may be in this life, it may be when the Believer enters heaven, or it could be both times. I do not know how God will exalt anyone. I do understand that walking the narrow way with him, making ourselves insignificant, walking in humility is a declaration that God can be trusted to give us recognition when the time is right.

Until that time Peter writes to cast all cares upon Him. Why? Because “He cares for you”! When Believers come to fully understand that God is God and they are not (walking in humility), they trust He will be with them in every situation they face. When Believers come to really believe that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and able to take care of all their needs, they “cast” all of them to Him so He can manage each and every concern. May I suggest that you stop holding on to those things, the “stuff” you are so concerned with and give it to your loving heavenly Father who cares for you, loves you more than you know and allow Him to handle those things for you.

“Cares” refers to worries, difficulties, needs of this world, and anxieties; “cares” are everything that worry or weigh one down. Give them to God. That does not mean He will take the problem or difficulty away, even though He could. It means He will care for you and be with you to see you through it. Romans 8:28 remind us, “And we know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”. God is telling Believers that He works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. That means Believers are to trust He is willing and able to deal with our “cares”.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to Me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When the Believer casts his burden on Jesus, he/she finds rest for our soul; Jesus Christ is the Believer’s assurance that even when the burden or trial still exists that He is with us, helping us carry it and supporting him/her through it.

God does not want us to be weighed down by the difficulties that come in this life. His promise is to give rest to those walking the narrow way with Him, trusting that he has all things under His control, and is able to handle every difficulty that comes their way.