Remain Steadfast in Faith

“May He establish, strengthen, and settle you” — 1 Peter 5:10.

When we receive Christ in any new relationship, we first need enough understanding to satisfy our minds that we are entitled to stand in that relationship. Even the shadow of a question here will wreck our confidence. Once we have seen this, we must take the step of faith, make the commitment and the choice, and take our place as definitely as a tree is planted in the soil or a bride gives herself at the marriage altar. It must be once for all, without reservation or withdrawal.

Then comes a season of establishing, settling, and testing. During this time we must stay in place until the new relationship becomes so firmly established that it is a permanent habit. It is just like a surgeon setting a broken arm. He puts it in splints to keep it from moving. God, too, has His spiritual splints. He wants to place them on His children and keep them quiet and unshaken until they pass through the first stage of faith.

This is not always easy for us. But “the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, will establish, strengthen, and settle you.”