God gives Grace to the Humble in our Struggles.
1 Peter 5:5,6
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Struggles humble us. We are not as strong or self-sufficient as we think. The Lord calls us to submit one to another, especially to elders and leaders. Jesus not only submitted to His Father in heaven, but humbled himself to his disciples by washing their feet and modeling how they were to act. He gives us grace in our humility.
Corrie ten Boom quotes the story of a woodpecker that pecked when lightening hit the tree. Stunned, still the bird went around bragging. That is the way with many Christians - when God does the work, we take credit. When we stop to think of God’s part and our part, we are humbled at His power and our lack of personal ability.
There are many people who have struggled with their faith as older Christians and that struggle has taught them something younger Christians are still learning. There is no quick formula for spiritual maturity. It comes through complete humility and dependency on Christ.
Struggles humble us. It is hard to see that as a tool of the Lord, but God's grace is made perfect in our weakness. God opposes the proud, the arrogant, and the haughty. Only the humble receive the rich outpouring the His grace. Perhaps one reason God hates pride so much is that’s the sin that caused Satan to fall and rebel. He was prideful in Heaven as the most beautiful angel. He forgot his place in relationship to God and sought rebellion. The creature thought he could be like the creator. (Sound familiar?)
In your struggles there is an important message. God is able to meet your needs. He is gracious. The mighty hand of God is the Old Testament's way of recognizing deliverance many times. God works on His own time schedule. In His time, He will give us the solution to our problems. We want things done yesterday, but that isn't the way He works.
Peter reminded his readers to believe that those who humble themselves, in recognition of the mighty power of God, will in time experience a divine lifting up. Grace will give them the capacity to be adequate to the tasks for which God calls them.
Verse.6 says that the people who are humbled will be lifted up at the right time. The key is the phrase "at the right time." God never exalts anyone until that person is ready for it. First comes the cross, then the crown. First comes the suffering, then the glory.
Moses was under God's hand for forty years before God sent him to deliver the Jews from Egypt. Joseph was under God's hand for 13 years before God lifted him to the throne. Evidence of our pride is our impatience with God; one reason for suffering is that we might learn patience. One of the benefits of a close relationship with God is the privilege of letting Him take care of our burdens.
How have you experienced the grace of God recently? What did you do to deserve it? Is it any wonder we need to be humble people when a great God chose to demonstrate His kindness to and through you?
