I love breakfast bread. Banana bread, zucchini bread, berry bread, you name it!
But when you make any one of these yummy treats, timing is everything. If you take it out of the oven too early because just because it looks done, you end up with gooey insides of batter that never baked all the way through. If you take it out too late, it’ll be too dry, with edges that may have even burned a little.
Timing really does matter! And it matters for more than just banana bread.
I was studying 1 Peter 5:6-9 this morning, which says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 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” (NLT).
Peter writes an awful lot about suffering in this letter, and not once does he tell the believers to pray for an end to their suffering. He gives them practical guidance for how to live the Christian life right in the midst of it.
One attitude he encourages us to have is that of trust. “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you” (4:19).
Having an attitude of trust in our Creator requires an additional attitude of humility before him. He knows so much better than we do, about e v e r y t h i n g!
As we humble ourselves before God, we trust that He knows what’s needed for his glory. Thinking back to our banana bread, when we get it just right, don’t we want accolades for its yummy deliciousness? My friend, we are the bread, and He is the baker! When we are lifted up in honor at the right time, who do you think is really going to get the glory and praise? I have a feeling that any coming our way will get redirected to the Author and Perfecter of our faith!
God sees our hearts. He knows what it’s going to take to bring us to completion. Do we trust Him enough to leave us in the oven of trial and suffering until we’re done on the inside? There is a great reward coming, friends. “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it” (3:14).
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Lauri Hawley 