Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:6
The book of 1 Peter is a letter written by the apostle Peter to Christians living in various regions of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) who were facing persecution and suffering for their faith. In chapter 5, Peter addresses the leaders of the church and urges them to be shepherds of God’s flock, caring for them and serving them as Christ did. He also encourages all believers to humble themselves before God and to resist the devil’s schemes.
In this verse, Peter is exhorting his readers to practice humility, which he sees as an essential virtue for Christians who are facing trials and tribulations. By humbling themselves under God’s mighty hand, believers demonstrate their trust in God’s power and sovereignty over their lives. They acknowledge that they are not in control of their circumstances, but that God is, and they submit themselves to His will. This humble posture is not a sign of weakness, but of strength, as it allows God to work in and through them to accomplish His purposes. Peter promises that if believers humble themselves in this way, God will exalt them in due time, lifting them up from their trials and difficulties and granting them His grace and blessings.
