"Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God
commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."
commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."
1 Peter 4:19
During the trials of life, we learn more about the faithfulness of God to His children. A.B. Simpson heard someone speak these words that he recorded in a book. "When God tests you, it is a good time for you to test Him by putting His promises to the proof, and claiming from Him just as much as your trials have rendered necessary." That is a way of saying that we can depend upon God through all the trials of life, because He is faithful to His promises. It is during trying times that we discover, time and time again, that our God is faithful.
The apostle Peter wrote his letter to Christians who were going through the trial of their faith. Many Christians had faced hardship and difficulty, because of a Roman government that persecuted disciples of Christ. Many became martyrs for their faith. The apostle himself was later put to death for his faith. Peter wrote to encourage God's people, regardless of the difficult days.
Are you going through a time of difficulty? I certainly hope not, but we must remember that God nowhere guarantees us a life without trials and hardship. Conflict with other people was the problem for the people Peter wrote to in the first century. Through it all, they were exhorted to depend upon the faithfulness of God to see them through great difficulty. God has not changed. He is forever faithful to His people. His promises change not. "The word of the LORD endures forever" (1 Peter 1:23).
Prayer: Father, we trust You in the good times and the bad. We put our faith in Your faithfulness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
