I was reading today in 1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
The verse strung a unique chord with me. How often do we try to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand. Strangely enough, I think as Christians we often do try to humble ourselves. It is a common lesson we are taught: pride goes before a fall, etc. So why is it that I found this verse to be so unique? What touched me that last part of the verse, "that he may lift you up in due time." For one thing we often forget what God will do for us.
Let's look at the word humble. I did a quick glance at dictionary.com, not the best source for finding the biblical use of a word in a verse but it gives some reference. There were two definitions they had for the word that I think applies to this verse. 1) not proud or arrogant; modest and 2) courteously respectful. By no means is this exhaustive research but we have at least skimmed the surface to set up to the point I want to make.
God will lift us up, how he lifts us up is never certain but he will, but how often are we willing to wait for the next part of the verse, "in due time." Humans have this issue with wanting things now. Why is it so hard for us to wait? One thing I learned when I was in school was, if you wait until the last minute it only takes a minute. Well, I get the feeling sometimes that God wants to show me he can do better and applies the idea that if you wait until the last second in only takes a second. I can't do something in a second but God sure can and I believe that he does that to remind us that what he does for us could only be him. So with humility and patience we will be lifted up...in due time.
