1 Peter 5:5-10

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion. walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
1 Peter 5:5-10


Long, I know... but great stuff. :)  I was the oldest child, so I always liked the first part... unfortunately, the actual verse goes on to say that we all need to be submissive to each other, so once my siblings were old enough to point that out, I didn't win any more battles with it. :)  I think it is a really good model of how we should all interact, with humility... never assuming that we know what someone is going to say, never assuming that we have a corner on the truth and that there is nothing to learn... that's one thing about this life.  Since it is a test... there is ALWAYS something to learn.  The image of us under the mighty hand of God is a pretty vivid one as well... a good reason to be humble perhaps... but God's hand is lengthened out to save, to protect, to guide, to strengthen.  Sometimes it seems too ... I don't know... hovering (?)  to us... but that hand that makes us realize his greatness and our nothingness is the same hand that loves us and exalts us and will make us equal to the tasks before us, and grant us everything that He has.  I think it is cool that we can cast our cares on him, because he cares for us... if we were just doing it because he was powerful, then it would be a little hollow... but we share our cares with the people we love here... we can grasp that concept. :)  Then... watch out for Satan, because he hates us, in contrast to God who we just mentioned... who loves us, and watches out for us.  and remember that we share the burden of Satan and everything that happens to us with our peers in the world... we all have to deal with the test.  it doesn't make it simple, but we can share experiences and notes... and maybe we'll figure out the answer to that essay question that has been stumping us... because we can work on it together.  We are never alone, even in our afflictions.  And finally, after we go through the testing period, God will take us to our eternal homes... and we'll be perfect.  what an amazing concept that is. :)