Jun. 21, 2026

                                       “BE HOPEFUL”

                     “THE FORMULA THAT BRINGS RELIEF”

                                       1 PETER 5:5-7

In contrast to the world's narcissistic plan for success, Peter outlines in 1 Peter 5:5-7 the essential ingredients for relief.

1.  Submit With Humility- 1 Peter 5:5 

1 Peter 5:5 “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Peter begins with the adverb "likewise" or “in the same way” vs.5  Greek (homoiõs).

Who is Peter addressing in verse 5? “Younger people” The term  Greek (neos) can mean several things. Our English prefix neo- borrows from this term, which means "new" or “young."

Col. 3:10 “And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”

Acts 5:6 “And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.”

Luke 22:25-26 “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” 

This corresponds to Peter's call for leaders to reject "lording leadership" and instead set an example of submissive servanthood (1 Pet. 5:3). 

Luke 22:26 “But the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest (neos), and the leader like the servant" 

Having called on leaders to serve in 1 Peter 5:1-4, he then gives directions to those who are under their leadership, the "newer" believers in verses 5-7.

vs.5- It may be that Peter was recalling the last meal in the upper room, when Jesus-the greatest leader of all-girded Himself with a towel and washed the disciples' feet (John 13:4-17).

All of this is included in the call for the younger believers to "be subject to" the elders. To support his call for humility and submission, Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34:

Proverbs 3:34 “Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.” 

Peter is expressing an idea found in various forms throughout the Old and New Testaments:

Psalm 138:6 “Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.”

Matthew 23:12 “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

James 4:6 “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.”

God has demonstrated His ability to humble the proud; He reduces to nothing those world leaders who are puffed up with pride:

Isaiah 14:4-21; Ezekiel 28:1-10; Daniel 4:28-37. 

2.  How To Experience True Success- 1 Peter 5:6

1 Peter 5:6 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time”

The second in Peter's series of three commands has to do with our attitude:

• Discipline: 

Exodus 3:20 “So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.”

Job 30:21 “But You have become cruel to me; With the strength of Your hand You oppose me.

Psalm 32:4 “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.”  

• Deliverance: 

Deuteronomy 9:26 “Therefore I prayed to the Lord, and said: ‘O Lord God, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.” 

Ezekiel 20:34 “I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.”  

So, humbling ourselves means we accept whatever comes from Him. We follow our sovereign Lord along the smooth highways as well as the bumpy back roads.

In fact, look at what Psalm 78 says about David:

Psalm 78:70-72 “He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; 71From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds;

From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him

To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.”

3.  Throw Yourself Onto The Mercy And Care Of God- 1 Peter 5:7

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

This leads to Peter's third strategy for true success: to throw yourself onto the mercy and care of God (5:7). The term "casting... on"  Greek (epiripto) literally means "to throw upon.”?

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." 

Do you want a simple formula that will enable you not only to handle whatever success God may bring your way, but also to provide you with the relief you need? Peter gives us just such a formula in 1 Peter 5:5-7:

Submission to others + Humility before God - Worry of the world = Genuine Relief 

•  True Success

*First, we need direction so we can know to whom we should submit.

*Second, we need discipline to restrain our hellish pride.

Third, we need discernment so we can spot the beginnings of anxiety.