1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Peter continues speaking to the younger people in the church, but this verse has a timeless truth to it. Humility is a close cousin to worship. To humble ourselves before God will require that we submit ourselves to God’s ways. The outcome of humility must be obedience, otherwise the humility is not genuine but only fabricated. Humility can also be shown in degrees. It is not a black and white issue. It is something we grow in, over time, with prayer, and through embracing grace. We can seek to be humble through the letter of the law, but this can actually lead to empty ritualism. Humility should free us from the bonds of this world because we trust in God more. The opposite of humility is pride, which comes as we try to take control because we think more highly of ourselves than we ought. The Bible promises us here that as we humble ourselves, God lifts us up. There is an interesting phrase at the end of the verse: “in due time” or simply literally “in time.” We may not get the answer we want right away, but God will answer our need in the perfect time according to His will and plan. This will require trust on our part, even when we will still face suffering.
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