Up’s and down’s, high’s and low’s, they’re all a part of the Christian life. Yet, nothing quite sucks the air from your lungs like the thought that nobody knows what you’re going through. And the enemy of our souls loves to leverage that isolated feeling.

This is not new. Peter reminded the early church that anxiety, fragility and suffering are common to the family of God. However, his advice may surprise you.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
(1 Peter 5:6)

Challenging circumstances have a way of humbling you already, so why do you need to humble yourself further? Could it be that we can be humble about our situation but not humble before God (literally, “make yourself low”)?

Our family loves holidaying on the famous ninety-mile beach in Victoria. Here the waves pound the golden beaches of Gippsland, providing fun yet demanding respect. Standing proud and obstinate in the face of these waves guarantees an undignified end. It’s much better to submit to their force, hold your breath, dive low and allow the turbulent waters to surface you in due course.

In the midst of life’s calamities and uncertainties, God’s sovereign hand is always present. Sometimes lifting, then propelling, now pressing, always guiding, sometimes shielding, hiding and protecting. Submit to that (that is, humble yourself) and in due course He will lift you up. You will surface!