No Bed of Roses
For most Christians, spiritual exhaustion flares up on a regular basis. We all grow weary in well-doing, and need to prepare ourselves when those times arise. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that “even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted” (Isaiah 40:30). No matter how old or young we may be, weariness and exhaustion is part of life. It may take children longer to grow weary, but eventually they fall prey to exhaustion the same as the elderly.
In the New Testament, we find two common images of the Christian life: A race (2 Timothy 4:7) and a battle (Ephesians 6:12). Both of these illustrations paint the same picture—living faithfully to Christ in a fallen world is not an easy proposition. Races require hours of training and demand an extended time of exertion and relentless perseverance. Soldiers train for many months before stepping on the battlefield. Battles are brutal and demand refined physical and mental strength to survive. Both of these illustrations provide a vivid reminder as to why we grow spiritually weary. Running a long race and fighting an extended battle demand a lot of those who run and fight.
It takes a lot of courage, sweat, and perseverance to faithfully serve Christ when surrounded by hostility, immorality, and opposition. Whenever we feel the weight of the world bearing down on us, it’s important to remember that Jesus did not present a rosy picture of the world when he promised that tribulation would be our companion in this fallen world (John 16:33). In the fourth chapter of Peter’s first epistle he warned believers to “not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Trials, regrettably, are a normal part of life. They are to be expected, and should never leave us shocked when they come. Even a cursory consideration of world history tells us that Earth has experienced more years of warfare than peace. Hostility comes naturally to humankind. Peace does not. This is why Jesus taught that His people should supernaturally live at peace with one another. Conflict is easy. Peace requires a lot of effort.
The challenges we face in this sinful world produce a wide range of emotions, including anxieties and depression. So when the inevitable problems of life arise, what do we do with these responses? In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we find a helpful answer to this question:
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.
The worries and cares of life can quickly distract us, and leave us disheartened. When we are bogged down by the cares of life, God’s Word is often choked out of our hearts, breaking our fellowship with the Lord and stunting our spiritual growth (Mark 4:19). When the inevitable pressures of life arise, the proper response is not fear, anxiety, or discouragement. According to Peter, trials should produce humility, trust, and hope rather than pride, doubt, and hopelessness.
Worry thrives in the soil of a prideful, fearful, and faithless heart. Our typical self-reliant responses to trials question God’s goodness and sovereignty, and demonstrate the foolish belief that we are capable of solving life’s problems in our own strength and by our own wisdom. Self-obsession can drive our idolatrous hearts toward multiple sins, and self-sufficiency is one of them. Making ourselves the god we trust most, we place our absolute confidence in ourselves rather than in God. When we choose this path, our circumstances generally deteriorate, our problems are exacerbated, and we prevent ourselves from enjoying God’s power.
Rather than falling into the deadly trap of self-sufficiency, Peter commands us to humble ourselves and cast all of our cares on God. In times of trial, we must humbly place our lives under the mighty hand of God, and trust in his sovereign plan for our lives. The concept of God’s mighty hand is rooted in the OT and demonstrates God’s power (e.g., Exodus 13:3,9; Deuteronomy 9:26). Willingly placing ourselves under God’s divine authority is what leads to exaltation in God’s appointed hour. Humbly placing ourselves under God’s authority, even in difficult times, is the key to staying spiritually grounded when life is seemingly falling apart around us.
The participle casting (from epirrhipto) in 1 Peter 5:7 is an interesting term. The Greek word epirrhipto means to throw upon. Peter’s use of this word explains a specific way we can humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. As a fisherman, Peter understood the casting of a fishing net into the water—he spent many hours practicing the skill. Like throwing a massive net to catch a school of fish, we are to hurl all of the worries and anxieties that weigh us down before God, trusting that under the power of His mighty hand and in His perfect timing He will work all things together for our spiritual benefit (Romans 8:28). Humble submission to the Lord is demonstrated when we recognize our profound lack of strength and wisdom to resolve the issues of life, and cast all of our cares, worries, and anxieties upon our heavenly Father. Ridding our hearts of anxiety begins with a humble spirit.
Perhaps you remain unconvinced and are wondering why God would want you to cast your anxieties on Him. Thankfully, Peter states rather clearly why we should humbly trust the Lord with the troubles of life. We should throw our anxieties upon our heavenly Father because he cares for each and every one of His children. All of God’s children are precious in His sight.
My dear friend, our gracious heavenly Father is not indifferent to your problems or cruelly ignoring them. He has unyielding compassion for His children and will sustain those who trust in Him during times of concern, fear, and distress. There may be times when you feel abandoned by the Lord. You may even feel unloved by Him. But remember, God loves His children, and He cares deeply for each and every one of them—including you. God is neither unaware nor unconcerned about what you are going through right now. God loves you, and He is asking you to humbly hand over your heartache to him, because He cares deeply for you.
You may be so weighed down by the trials of life at the moment that you are living in a state of quiet desperation. Given your circumstances, believing God cares may be difficult. Many of life’s cares and concerns are admittedly not easily resolved or overcome. Easy answers and quick solutions are often hard to find. This is why the Lord calls you to throw all of your cares, anxieties, worries, fears, and insecurities before Him. When we humbly cast all of our cares upon the Lord, He will either avert what we fear or equip us to pass through the hardship. No matter which of these God chooses, we can trust that He never stops caring about us.
If you are a Christian and still doubt God’s care for you, take a moment and consider your salvation. What did you do to deserve your salvation? The answer is simple: nothing. There is nothing that you did or will ever do to earn God’s forgiveness of sin. Redemption is by God’s grace alone. It is because of His mercy that any of us are saved. God would have been perfectly just to leave you in your sin, condemning you to an eternity in hell. But He didn’t. As Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:10, “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” [emphasis mine]. It is God who called you and saved you. It is God who will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. If God doesn’t care about you, why would He save you from hell? If your heavenly Father has forsaken you, why would He promise to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you? If you are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, I promise you, God cares about you. He sent his Son to die for you. God never would have sacrificed His only Son to save you if He was indifferent to your plight. Truth is, it’s selfish to deny God’s compassion and love for you. The most effective way to accept the fact that God cares for you is to use the ax of humility to chop up every root of pride lingering in your arrogant heart.
Affliction is inevitable; therefore, do not be surprised when it comes. Like hurdles on a track, there will always be obstacles that we have to get over. We may not be able to circumvent hardships, but we can control how we respond to them. Times of trial will either humble you and drive you into the mighty arms of God, or they will harden your heart and strain your relationship with Him. Rather than allowing trials to leave you spiritually weary and vulnerable, choose to follow Peter’s instruction and humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Trust in God’s character, submit your life under His mighty hand, and humbly cast all of your anxieties before Him.
As the prophet Isaiah beautifully declared in Isaiah 40:31, “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Life may not be a bed of roses, but under the mighty hand of God we will always find the strength and care we require to keep on running and fighting without growing weary.
In the New Testament, we find two common images of the Christian life: A race (2 Timothy 4:7) and a battle (Ephesians 6:12). Both of these illustrations paint the same picture—living faithfully to Christ in a fallen world is not an easy proposition. Races require hours of training and demand an extended time of exertion and relentless perseverance. Soldiers train for many months before stepping on the battlefield. Battles are brutal and demand refined physical and mental strength to survive. Both of these illustrations provide a vivid reminder as to why we grow spiritually weary. Running a long race and fighting an extended battle demand a lot of those who run and fight.
It takes a lot of courage, sweat, and perseverance to faithfully serve Christ when surrounded by hostility, immorality, and opposition. Whenever we feel the weight of the world bearing down on us, it’s important to remember that Jesus did not present a rosy picture of the world when he promised that tribulation would be our companion in this fallen world (John 16:33). In the fourth chapter of Peter’s first epistle he warned believers to “not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Trials, regrettably, are a normal part of life. They are to be expected, and should never leave us shocked when they come. Even a cursory consideration of world history tells us that Earth has experienced more years of warfare than peace. Hostility comes naturally to humankind. Peace does not. This is why Jesus taught that His people should supernaturally live at peace with one another. Conflict is easy. Peace requires a lot of effort.
The challenges we face in this sinful world produce a wide range of emotions, including anxieties and depression. So when the inevitable problems of life arise, what do we do with these responses? In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we find a helpful answer to this question:
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.
The worries and cares of life can quickly distract us, and leave us disheartened. When we are bogged down by the cares of life, God’s Word is often choked out of our hearts, breaking our fellowship with the Lord and stunting our spiritual growth (Mark 4:19). When the inevitable pressures of life arise, the proper response is not fear, anxiety, or discouragement. According to Peter, trials should produce humility, trust, and hope rather than pride, doubt, and hopelessness.
Worry thrives in the soil of a prideful, fearful, and faithless heart. Our typical self-reliant responses to trials question God’s goodness and sovereignty, and demonstrate the foolish belief that we are capable of solving life’s problems in our own strength and by our own wisdom. Self-obsession can drive our idolatrous hearts toward multiple sins, and self-sufficiency is one of them. Making ourselves the god we trust most, we place our absolute confidence in ourselves rather than in God. When we choose this path, our circumstances generally deteriorate, our problems are exacerbated, and we prevent ourselves from enjoying God’s power.
Rather than falling into the deadly trap of self-sufficiency, Peter commands us to humble ourselves and cast all of our cares on God. In times of trial, we must humbly place our lives under the mighty hand of God, and trust in his sovereign plan for our lives. The concept of God’s mighty hand is rooted in the OT and demonstrates God’s power (e.g., Exodus 13:3,9; Deuteronomy 9:26). Willingly placing ourselves under God’s divine authority is what leads to exaltation in God’s appointed hour. Humbly placing ourselves under God’s authority, even in difficult times, is the key to staying spiritually grounded when life is seemingly falling apart around us.
The participle casting (from epirrhipto) in 1 Peter 5:7 is an interesting term. The Greek word epirrhipto means to throw upon. Peter’s use of this word explains a specific way we can humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. As a fisherman, Peter understood the casting of a fishing net into the water—he spent many hours practicing the skill. Like throwing a massive net to catch a school of fish, we are to hurl all of the worries and anxieties that weigh us down before God, trusting that under the power of His mighty hand and in His perfect timing He will work all things together for our spiritual benefit (Romans 8:28). Humble submission to the Lord is demonstrated when we recognize our profound lack of strength and wisdom to resolve the issues of life, and cast all of our cares, worries, and anxieties upon our heavenly Father. Ridding our hearts of anxiety begins with a humble spirit.
Perhaps you remain unconvinced and are wondering why God would want you to cast your anxieties on Him. Thankfully, Peter states rather clearly why we should humbly trust the Lord with the troubles of life. We should throw our anxieties upon our heavenly Father because he cares for each and every one of His children. All of God’s children are precious in His sight.
My dear friend, our gracious heavenly Father is not indifferent to your problems or cruelly ignoring them. He has unyielding compassion for His children and will sustain those who trust in Him during times of concern, fear, and distress. There may be times when you feel abandoned by the Lord. You may even feel unloved by Him. But remember, God loves His children, and He cares deeply for each and every one of them—including you. God is neither unaware nor unconcerned about what you are going through right now. God loves you, and He is asking you to humbly hand over your heartache to him, because He cares deeply for you.
You may be so weighed down by the trials of life at the moment that you are living in a state of quiet desperation. Given your circumstances, believing God cares may be difficult. Many of life’s cares and concerns are admittedly not easily resolved or overcome. Easy answers and quick solutions are often hard to find. This is why the Lord calls you to throw all of your cares, anxieties, worries, fears, and insecurities before Him. When we humbly cast all of our cares upon the Lord, He will either avert what we fear or equip us to pass through the hardship. No matter which of these God chooses, we can trust that He never stops caring about us.
If you are a Christian and still doubt God’s care for you, take a moment and consider your salvation. What did you do to deserve your salvation? The answer is simple: nothing. There is nothing that you did or will ever do to earn God’s forgiveness of sin. Redemption is by God’s grace alone. It is because of His mercy that any of us are saved. God would have been perfectly just to leave you in your sin, condemning you to an eternity in hell. But He didn’t. As Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:10, “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” [emphasis mine]. It is God who called you and saved you. It is God who will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. If God doesn’t care about you, why would He save you from hell? If your heavenly Father has forsaken you, why would He promise to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you? If you are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, I promise you, God cares about you. He sent his Son to die for you. God never would have sacrificed His only Son to save you if He was indifferent to your plight. Truth is, it’s selfish to deny God’s compassion and love for you. The most effective way to accept the fact that God cares for you is to use the ax of humility to chop up every root of pride lingering in your arrogant heart.
Affliction is inevitable; therefore, do not be surprised when it comes. Like hurdles on a track, there will always be obstacles that we have to get over. We may not be able to circumvent hardships, but we can control how we respond to them. Times of trial will either humble you and drive you into the mighty arms of God, or they will harden your heart and strain your relationship with Him. Rather than allowing trials to leave you spiritually weary and vulnerable, choose to follow Peter’s instruction and humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Trust in God’s character, submit your life under His mighty hand, and humbly cast all of your anxieties before Him.
As the prophet Isaiah beautifully declared in Isaiah 40:31, “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Life may not be a bed of roses, but under the mighty hand of God we will always find the strength and care we require to keep on running and fighting without growing weary.
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