Contentmentናሙና

Come what may

At the end of Peter’s first of two letters in the New Testament, he continues with a constant thread of what’s come before. Writing to a dispersed group of Jesus’ fledgling followers, Peter keeps returning to the hard truth of suffering as a Christian. Without specifying the ‘various trials’ that his original readers might be going through (1 Peter 1:6), Peter explains how joy can be found in such dire straits. Among the available benefits of suffering is the increased reliance upon the care and strength of God.

As our passage in chapter 5 indicates, contentment is actually possible amid the anxieties and ‘prowling’ attacks of the devil. In Christ, and in humility ‘under God’s mighty hand' (1 Peter 5:6), we can cast all our cares on the Almighty who cares for us.

How stabilising and constant. Such an opportunity for stress relief provides a ‘strong, firm and steadfast’ foundation (1 Peter 5:10) for life. Come what may.

Written by BEN MCEACHEN