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In our era of 24-hour news coverage, it’s almost impossible for the latest traumatic event to escape our attention. Paul’s exhortation to pray for all people and authorities is just as urgent today - leading a peaceful and quiet life just as daunting, especially when it involves our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Paul writes to Timothy during Nero’s increasing persecution of Christians. Sadly, the passage still applies. Believers all over the world still suffer persecution for their faith. Paul’s instruction is an example of the timeless wisdom of God’s Word.
History has shown that “Times of political and social upheaval are excellent times in which to die for Christ, but hard times in which to live for Him.”1 It’s not easy to live for Christ amid chaos and persecution.
In times of turmoil, the temptation is to doubt God’s sovereignty. That’s when it’s most important to trust that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (Prov. 21:1).
When chaos reigns, remember that God is sovereign. Be encouraged to pray for all people. Pray for wisdom, courage, and discernment for those in authority so that the persecuted can live in peace and quiet, godly and dignified in every way.
“Peace is the deep, inner, eternal stability the believer possesses by virtue of relationship with Jesus, a sense of balance that’s not subject to external circumstance. It’s also the quality that enables us to live harmoniously with others.”— Priscilla Shirer2
1 Litfin, A. D. (1985). 1 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 734). Victor Books.
Do you ever feel helpless or angry about the ever-present hostilities and persecution in the world? Is it hard to reconcile God’s sovereignty with so much suffering?
It helps me to remember the fallen state of creation and the total depravity of man when I think about the chaos in the world. I try to remember God’s total sovereignty over the affairs of humankind, even when I don’t understand it. It’s tough though, especially when it affects those I know and love.