Job’s friend said, “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” If trouble is certain to come, how can we deal with it? In 1 Peter chapter 5, the apostle Peter counsels, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. So after you have suffered a little while he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! ” Peter reminds us that God is not indifferent to the pain of his children—He cares. God offers his children strength to deal with trouble now and promises a future reward for bearing up. Peter alerts us that Satan is on the prowl to lure us from our faith in God. He often does it with the false promise of pain-free living— even though pain in this world is certain. Peter tells us that when we live close to God, God gives us the ability to go through trouble victoriously.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
