By[19] “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” – 1 Peter 4:19 (NKJV)
Did you know that some sufferings are according to God’s will? Maybe not. Let me give you an example. Jesus’ suffering while on Earth and before His crucifixion was God-ordained. Even though He prayed that if it be the Father’s will, let the cup of suffering be removed from Him (see Luke 22:42), God still decided not to honour that request. So, there are some sufferings you cannot escape in life because they’re designed by God to teach you lessons. But in such circumstances, what do you do, especially when you can’t explain why you’re going through that pain? Your answer is in 1 Peter 4:19.
Commit your soul to the faithful God when you cannot explain your sufferings. But note that the Bible doesn’t say, “Commit your spirit to the faithful God.” Why? It’s because, in your dark moments, God is always with you because of the presence of His Holy Spirit in you. But your soul (consisting of your mind, will and emotions) is what bears the suffering. You’ll realise you are bitter, yet you can’t explain yourself. Only God can understand certain situations you go through.
How do you commit your soul to the faithful God? It’s simply — by prayer, followed by living in utmost silence until the suffering is over. Remember what Jesus did days before His crucifixion. He spent enough time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. After He was arrested, He hardly spoke, even before Pilate. Although He had all the heavenly authority to escape the suffering, He knew that it was God-ordained for Him to bear the suffering.
Don’t be afraid to face persecution because of your faith in Christ. God will never leave nor forsake you (see Hebrews 13:5).
You’re a blessing.
Prayer:
Father, I pray in the name of Jesus, strengthen me to go through every suffering You’ve ordained in heaven for the cause of the gospel. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD-2024-184
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