"THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD!"

1 Peter 5:6-11                                    (ESV)
"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under "THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD" so that AT THE PROPER TIME HE MAY EXALT YOU,
7 casting all your anxieties on HIM, because HE cares for you.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the GOD of all grace, WHO has called you to HIS eternal glory in CHRIST, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
11 To HIM be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  


A few days ago I was studying this same EXACT passage of scripture, except my focus was on AT THE PROPER TIME.  Then this morning I observed a social media post where a young lady (anyone who is younger than me is young!) who has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis was parking in a handicap parking space, even though on this day she didn't exhibit a tremendous amount of symptoms.  She had received a note questioning her "disability".

Seeing someone, with seemingly no physical disabilities abscond with a right reserved for those who are suffering from some condition that requires they receive special attention, can be irritating, to put it mildly.  My mind goes back to my "recovery time" from the brain hemorrhage.  My condition was such that I didn't necessarily need a wheelchair, but I probably didn't need to be walking long distances across a parking lot.  I remember thinking that everyone must be pitying me because I had to walk with a "walker" for a couple of months. When I regained my strength and mobility, I MADE A POINT to park in the farthermost spots to allow those with disabilities the handicap spots.

"THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD" can touch your life with very little time to prepare. We can HUMBLE OURSELVES on our own, or GOD can HUMBLE us to a degree we could have never imagined!  Sometimes I need to be reminded that "after you have SUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE, the GOD of all grace, WHO has called you to HIS eternal glory in CHRIST, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you".

In Esther 4:14 Mordecai tells Esther that GOD put her where she was "for such a time as this"!  GOD can get glory out of even my sin and disobedience.  GOD was glorified when Pharaoh chased the Israelites into the Red Sea!  Can GOD be glorified by me walking across a parking lot leaving closer parking spots for others?  "THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD" is not something to try and barter with.  My prayer is that I will honor and respect that "THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD" rules the universe!