All Believers Everywhere Are Suffering But Not For Long

1 Peter 5:9 – Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5:10 – And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

5:9 Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.

5:10 The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. (Message Bible)

If all believers are suffering as you are, then that should change your perception about your suffering. You are not unusually targeted. You are not unfairly handled. What is happening to you is not a special hatred against you or. All believers everywhere are suffering!

You are not suffering because you are not a believer. Even believers are suffering. Some suffer as a punishment for sin, while others suffer because they are believers. Do not rush to conclude that any suffering is punishment for sin. All believers everywhere are suffering!

The fact that some believers do not seem to be suffering is because of patience and ability to contain or suppress pain. The fact that they are not complaining like you, doesn’t mean they are not suffering. The fact that they don’t look sad or constantly speak negative doesn’t mean they are not suffering. Even the happiest are suffering but have found a way around it. All believers everywhere are suffering!

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you EXCEPT WHAT IS COMMON TO MANKIND. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Your struggles are not special. Your suffering which looks so great, is what others are going through. Your suffering is common among people, only that not everyone expresses it as you do. Expressing is not a problem, it’s healthy and unique to you. All believers everywhere are suffering!

You are not the only jobless believer. You are not the only single and lonely believer. You are not the only schemed against and unfairly treated believer. You are not the only hated believer. All believers everywhere are suffering!

You are not the only childless believer. You are not the only believer with marriage problems. You are not the only believer who works hard but ever broke. All believers everywhere are suffering!

You are not the only believer unable to travel to a distant country for one reason or another. You are not the only believer without school fees. You are not the only believer out of class when others are in class. All believers everywhere are suffering!

You are not the only one falsely accused. You are not the only with that diagnosis. You are not the only one being overworked. You are not the only one overwhelmed. You are not the only one with low grades. You are not the only one in that circumstance that seems special only for you. All believers everywhere are suffering!

1 Peter 5:9 – Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5:10 – And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

The Bible tells us to stand firm. Stand firm amidst suffering. Stand firm because you are not alone in suffering. Stand firm because the Bible says the suffering is for a short period. Stand firm in you suffering! All believers everywhere are suffering!

Stand firm means don’t lose faith. Stand firm means keep attending church. Stand firm means hand in there. Stand firm means keep praying even when it seems God has abandoned you. Stand firm means trust God even when it seems He has abandoned you. Stand firm means do not let problems make you reject faith in God and then become a philosopher or atheist or some clever rejecter of God. Stand firm. All believers everywhere are suffering!

May God help you and me to stand firm, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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