1 Peter 5:5-11

We all have things that come up in our lives that we are anxious about, that we worry about. How do we deal with them? How does God want us to deal with them? 1 Peter 5:5-11 gives us insight into that last question. Let’s unpack it.

Verse 5b: “And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

That last phrase (“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”) is a reference to Proverbs 3:34 . James 4:6-10 covers essentially the same principles. This is a general principle from Scripture. When we think we know everything and can do everything without God’s help, God often doesn’t help. But when we acknowledge that we are not sufficient on our own and we depend on Him, it is a very different story.

Note that Peter says to be humble “toward one another”. You can’t be humble in a vacuum. Where it is really revealed whether you are humble or not is how you relate to other people (and to God, but we’ll get to that in a minute): Do you always think you know better than other people? Are you reluctant to listen to others and learn from them? Do you think your needs, desires, and priorities are more important than others’? Peter also gives a very specific example: Younger people in the church should “be subject to the elders” (pastors/shepherds). When we are young, we often think we know better than older people. Often that’s because we haven’t seen enough of life yet to know that things are not always as simple as they seem. Many parents I know have said that before they had children they had many opinions about how to parent better than the parents they knew. But once they had children of their own, they found it was much harder than it looked.

Verses 6-7: “And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.”

“under his mighty hand”: God created heaven and earth, and you and me. He knows the end from the beginning. How can we not throw ourselves at His feet and say “You know better than I do” and “You are able to do all things, and I’m able to do very little?” If there was ever someone or something to put our trust in, it is the creator of heaven and earth who loves us!

“by casting”: I like the way the NET translation uses the word “by” to connect the concepts of humbling yourself before God and casting your cares on Him. The ESV translation indicates the same connection using just the word “casting”, but it is less obvious to the reader (at least it was to me). Both the NET translation notes and the ESV study notes say that in the original Greek the participle “casting” modifies the main verbal phrase “humble yourselves”.

When we encounter trials, bringing all of our worries to God and laying them at His feet is an important and authentic way to humble ourselves before Him. But also how we bring our concerns to God matters. Too often, we as Christians essentially pray “here’s my problem God, and this is how I want you to fix it.” (Sure, we don’t word it that way, but that’s what we mean.) When you really think about it in light of God’s Word, this is a ridiculous approach. God knows so many factors related to our problem that we have no idea about: what we need to grow in, how it affects other people, how he is working in their lives, what will happen in the future that is related to this problem, etc. It is true that sometimes God leads us to pray specifically and He miraculously answers that prayer. But more often, I think our disposition toward God should be “Lord, this is what I’m struggling with, but you are loving, compassionate, all-powerful, and all-knowing. Provide for me in the way that is best in your sight.” Note that this verse says to cast your “cares” on Him, not your “solutions“.

This is how Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, shortly before He was arrested and crucified: “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Matthew 26:39) In fact, as He continued to seek the Father, his prayer evolved to “My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.” (Matthew 26:42) Jesus came to fully see that God was doing something much bigger than just the pain He was about to go through. May we also trust God like that with our problems!

This year, I’ve had a life-threatening medical issue, so for me, understanding this passage and applying it has been more than just an intellectual exercise. And I found that it has been easier for me to trust God in this way. Instead of being anxious about “what if God doesn’t do what I want Him to do” (which He hasn’t promised), it is easier for me to trust that He will do what is good (which He has promised: Romans 8:28-29) and that He has promised to “give grace to the humble”, whatever form that grace takes.

Verses 8-10: “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith…”

When encountering trials of any kind, it is an opportunity for the devil to disrupt our faith. Why did God allow this to happen? Why isn’t He hearing and answering my prayers? Maybe He isn’t a loving and trustworthy God like I thought He was!

“Be sober and alert”: The first step in “resisting” is to understand that these doubts are from the devil, part of his evil scheme. It can make it easier not to fall into this trap if you see it for what it is: a trap.

“Resist him, strong in your faith”: The second step is to stand firm in your faith. Faith comes from God’s Word (Romans 10:17). Read and meditate on His truth and promises, and seek the Lord honestly and sincerely. A big part of the battle in trials is in our minds. We need to win that battle by saturating our minds with God’s truth. Just recognize that even though everything in this passage (and the related linked passages) is true, God has not promised that everything will turn the way we want it to (John 16:31-33). But take heart, in the next life it will (Revelation 21:4) !!

“And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”: Your trial will not last forever – literally. Whether it is resolved in this life (as it often is because God is merciful) or in the “eternal glory” He has called us to, we can rest in the hands of the “God of all grace”.

Verse 11: “To him belongs the power forever. Amen.

This. This is what makes this whole passage trustworthy. God has the power to fulfill all of these promises. Not just for a little while, but for all time.