Be Strong in Your Faith

1 Peter 5:9 (NLT)
“Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

Divorce can be one of the most painful ordeals that any of us can experience. When children are involved, it’s even more challenging. Some of us are still in shock even after a year or so has passed. We find ourselves just going through the motions on life, responding to it on autopilot. Sometimes the reality of no longer being married hits us like a freight train. For others, it’s a slower process of coming to terms with the emotions. Even when abuse is involved, and we’re finally free, the readjustment emotionally and mentally may cause us to lose confidence in our identity, decisions, and ability to live a happy life.

The Word of God teaches us that we should pray for our brothers and sisters all over the world, and 1Peter 5:9 reminds us that they are going through some of the same difficulties many of us are experiencing. This encouragement is not meant to minimize the pain and heartbreak we might be enduring. Jesus Christ said in John 16:33(NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Our Heavenly Father knows that life can be difficult for us, and He wants to help us. He wants us to know that just as He has helped our other sisters and brothers in Christ as they have suffered tribulation and come through it, He will help us as well.

It is God’s Will for the gift of being and having a spouse to be a blessing. It’s a role that is meant to be unifying, and to provide support and love, but sometimes people do not value the gift of marriage as it should be. Colossians 3:12(NLT) says, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” The world would be a very different place if God’s commandment in this verse was obeyed by everyone, but many people do not obey it. They are not kind, humble, gentle, tenderhearted and patient. Often, they are just the opposite.

It is also the case that sometimes we don’t find out about the dark side of some individuals until after we’ve married them. While dating and getting to know one another, all of us try to present our best qualities, but when the things that lurk beneath the surface appear, sometimes the darkness is shocking. We didn’t see it coming, but God knows everything. He knew that this person had issues that would impede our lives. This is one of the reasons that we must seek God first on all things. Jesus Christ tells us this in Matthew 6:33(NLT), where he said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

In the aftermath of a difficult situation, we must never lose sight of God’s willingness and ability to come to our rescue. We can’t make decisions without God’s help. We need Him to lead, guide, and direct us, not just in the process of making the decisions, but also about living with those decisions. We need His guidance and help to maintain the blessings we’ve received.

Romans 8:29(NLT) says, “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” We are God’s children and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. This is our identity, and it is a glorious one. The Christian life doesn’t exempt us from the hardships of life. Through our powerful Lord and Savior, we don’t remain in troubles and tribulations, we go through them and come out on the victorious side. We must stand firm and remain strong in our faith in this as we move from victory to victory through Jesus Christ.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

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