Our Christian walk (a spiritual warfare) can take a toll on us and we may feel overwhelmed, drained, etc. To be victorious in running the Christian race, we must not look to self but to God. The “God of all grace” (1 Pet 5:10) implies there is divine enabling.

1) The provision of grace (1 Pet 5:10a)

Apostle Peter refers to God as the “God of all grace” (1 Pet 5:10a). Grace means unmerited favour. God, our loving and merciful heavenly Father, has bestowed on us His salvation grace. He will never leave/forsake us. Jesus Christ is “ touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb 4:15). We can be comforted that our God knows what we are going through. 1 Peter 5:10a says that our suffering will be but for “a while” only. According to God’s timing, we will soon realise His purpose and plan for us. When we consider our lives in the light of eternity, we will know that God doeth all things well and that truly “ all things work together for good” (Rom 8:28).

2) The purpose of grace (1 Pet 5:10b)

God’s grace makes us “perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle” us. “Perfect” here has the idea of restoring, i.e. God will make us whole again. It has the idea of someone who is wounded but God restores his soul. (Note: In 2 Timothy 3:17, “perfect” describes maturity.) As we are called to suffer, God gives us His grace, and His purpose is to restore us and make us complete. To “stablish” means to set fast/firmly in place. To “strengthen” means to strengthen the spirit. To “settle” is to provide a strong foundation that we will not be shaken.

3) The result of grace (1 Pet 5:11)

1 Peter 5:11 says,“To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” God’s “glory” refers to His honour, greatness and majesty. Therefore, we want the world to see God’s glory. We often have a self-centred view of God, i.e. God is here to serve us. Note that God does not need man. It is we who need Him. God has made man for Himself. “Dominion” describes the sovereignty of God. Oftentimes, we want to be in-charge and do things our own way. But we must surrender our will to God, and always yield to His will. “Amen” means truly. It is a word of affirmation that we agree to what has been uttered.

God is gracious. Look to Him.