“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” 1 Peter 3:13–14 (ESV)
Do you have someone in your life that focuses on the bad and ignores the good, no matter what happens? They carry their negative energy around like luggage, and it weighs them down. They feel they’ve gotten a bum deal and constantly blame others for their lot.
You quickly discover misery loves company and that they want to embroil you in their unhappiness—to have you become disillusioned with the world as they have—to doubt what’s right and good in your life and to test your faith and resolve. Do not let them.
You must practice faith under fire. When you encounter people that purposefully set out to do you harm or to shake your faith, you have to be stronger than doubt, more powerful than hate, illuminated by light and not darkness, and buoyed by love instead of fear. As we read in 1 Peter 3:13–14, even if you suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed.
It’s through Jesus that we are connected to the Father. It is by His word that we are taught to be of good courage and not be troubled. There is nothing and no one on Earth that can carry us through the storms of life like the Lord; He is the armor that protects us, through Him our tumultuous waters become still, the evil encircling us dissipates like fog burned off by the heat of the morning Sun.
Faith step: The Lord is your armor. He will protect you from all things. Give Him thanks and pray for the guidance and strength you need today to keep any naysayers at bay.
