Strong, firm and steadfast 

If you want God to restore you and make you “strong, firm and steadfast,” meditate prayerfully on these four scriptures, and look for ways to put them into practice each day: (1) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (v. 6 NIV). (2) “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (v. 7 NIV). (3) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (v. 8 NIV). (4) “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (v. 9 NIV). Now, here is the result God promises when you walk in the truth of these four scriptures: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (v. 10 NIV). Note two important phrases here: “The God of all grace.” Whatever you fear and whatever you have to face, God will give you the grace to handle it. “After you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong.” If you are going through a season of stress, God has promised that it will lead to a season of strengthening. So when you pray, “Lord, take me out of this,” He may answer, “No, I will take you through it and make you ‘firm and steadfast.’”