How to thrive in adversity: crave!

So I am a proud ‘pappa’. My granddaughter has now just been weighed again and has reached the grand total of 16ibs 8.5oz!! A marvellous achievement!

Over these last several months she has put on weight! Just like her pappa!

How did she achieve this grand accomplishment?

Milk!

Having spent a wonderful week with her and the family recently I was reminded of the demands her bundle of loveliness brings and it is all around her cravings for milk.

Apostle Peter in writes to the Christians who are suffering. This is an encouraging letter to hold on, keep going and not to let go of their faith.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2 v 2-3)

Paul uses the idea of newborn babies craving for the immaturity of believers.

However Peter uses it to show the passion and desire to grow through the suffering.

He particular chooses Psalm 34 not because it has the ‘taste that the Lord is good’ verse but because of the entire message of the Psalm itself.

The context is suffering and the message of the Psalm is God is close and they will thrive in their adversity. Peter is saying the people of this Psalm were going through what is taking place in your life also.

² I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice… ⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears… ⁶ This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. ⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them… ⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him…¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. ¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,     and his ears are attentive to their cry; …¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles… ¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted … and saves those who are crushed in spirit… ²² The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

The readers of Peter’s letter knew this Psalm and he used it again later.

He is telling them how to thrive in adversity.

How?

Crave!