Courageous by Dr. Robert JeffressÖrnek

Don’t Panic

Think for a moment about what you fear most in life. What are some of your greatest worries? I imagine that many of your fears involve something being taken away from you—a person, a position, or a possession. The truth is, there are seemingly endless situations that tempt us to fear in this life. However, if we are to survive when challenges come, we must not panic.

The apostle Peter wrote 1 Peter to Christians who were being slandered and shunned because they dared to live faithfully for Christ in a pagan society. In the face of increasing persecution, Peter encouraged believers to remember two things: first, the world is hostile to Christians, and second, the grace of God is sufficient to deal with these hostilities.

First, Peter said that for Christians to live holy lives, we need to be disciplined in our thinking. In 1 Peter 1:13, he wrote, “Prepare your minds for action.” To do this, we need to refuse to fill our minds with things that tempt us to fear. And that means controlling the sights, sounds, and experiences that go into our brains. What kinds of input are you storing in your mind? The things you allow into your mind eventually will affect your actions.

Second, if we are going to survive as followers of Christ in this world, we need both discipline in our conduct and holiness of character: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15–16). The word holy means “separate.” We are to live in a different way from the unbelievers around us—our behavior reflects our true identity as belonging to Christ. As Christians, conduct yourselves not as citizens of the culture in which we live but as citizens of the culture we represent—heaven.

Finally, because grace is the thing we need most when we face difficult circumstances, Peter concluded his letter with these words: “This is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” (1 Peter 5:12). For those of us who have received God’s gift of salvation, when we go through suffering or trials, God gives us His grace—His divine assistance—to supply us with needed strength. This is the grace Peter had in mind when he urged believers to stand firm.

God equips His children in their moments of need through the Holy Spirit and with His endless measure of grace. How does this truth strengthen you today?