And so Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes a letter about how God has a plan and purpose for history and a plan and purpose for our lives. God even uses suffering and spiritual warfare as a means to reveal His grace to us and to stregnthen us and to empower us.

We have brothers and sisters who are really facing struggles. So when we face struggles, we need to let that be a reminder to not only pray for ourselves but to pray for one another.

Whatever you are facing right now; whether it's in your personal spiritual life or your finances or your marriage or with your kids or just some life confusion. Regardless of what might be pressuring you to give up or to cave in, there is a word from God that gives hope to stand firm.

God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. You want to experience God's grace, walk in humility. You want God as your enemy, be prideful.

You see, God has placed spiritual leaders and all of us are to have an attitude of teachable, humble submission to our spiritual leaders. And it's for our benefit to do that.

Peter says in 1 Peter chapter 5, "Listen, when times are hard and tough, you not only need a strong faith, you need to be a part of a community of faith that's served by Godly servant leaders."

We need to be a part of community of faith that's led by Godly servant leaders! God's looking for leaders, the church needs leaders, you as a congregation deserve servant leaders!

Even when things are hard, even when things are falling apart, even when our expectations aren't being met; we need to understand some things that are important, that are priorities that are things that really matter.

Even when things are hard. Even when things are falling apart. Even when our expectations aren't being met. We need to understand some things that are important that are prioritites that are things that really matter.

Why bring unnecessary suffering into your life? In other words, why make sinful choices and then suffer the consequence of your sinful choices?