Early in this series, we saw the Apostle Paul lay out two key steps to persevere through trials or crises: stand firm in what we know and hold fast to the traditions taught in God’s Word. We boiled those down to (1) Remember key principles and (2) Obey practical steps to fuel our perseverance. This is our tenth principle to remember, and, get ready, this news is incredible.

God has given you all you need for life and godliness in Christ (2 Peter 1:1-11).

When a crisis hits, it is natural to feel like you are coming up short – like you do not have the strength, clarity, or hope to push through. The waves crash, and you wonder, “Do I even have what it takes?” But Scripture cuts through that doubt with a bedrock truth: in Christ, God has already given you everything you need for life and godliness. Here is the good news – that is not a pep talk! It is the promise of 2 Peter 1:1-11, where Peter reminds us of the treasure we possess through Jesus Christ. Let us consider this passage and see how it holds us steady when everything else seems unsteady in the midst of the storm or crisis.

In this text, Peter is writing to believers under fire – faith stretched, pressures mounting. He starts strong with an emphasis on the individual’s union in Christ:

“Simon Peter, a bondservant and Apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises…” (2 Peter 1:1-4).

Then he calls them to grow – faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, love – rooted in what they have received in Christ (vv. 5-11). The crisis is not a dead end; in Christ, it is a doorway to fruitfulness. Let us unpack how this truth meets us in our storms.

Sufficiency: All You Need in Christ

Peter’s words help anchor us: God’s divine power has given us all things for life and godliness. Past tense – done deal. And it is all in Christ, through knowing Him. When the bottom falls out – maybe a diagnosis that staggers you, a financial crisis, or a fractured friendship – you are not left empty. In Christ, you have everything you need for life and godliness; that is, grace to stand, peace to breathe, and promises to cling to. This is not about self-effort or pulling yourself up by your bootstraps; instead, it is about leaning into what is yours through Jesus.

Peter’s audience knew hardship; their persecution was not theoretical. Yet he points them to Christ’s provision, not their own reserves. In your crisis, God is not tapping His foot, waiting for you to figure it out. In Christ, you have His righteousness, His strength, His everything. In Christ, you are equipped – not because you are enough, but because He is.

Growth: Living Out Christ’s Gifts

But Peter does not leave it there. Since everything is ours in Christ, he says, “add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge…” (vv. 5-7). This is not striving to earn something; it is stepping into what has already been given. In a crisis, faith can feel wobbly, the wind and waves seemingly too rough to endure. Yet in Christ, you have the foundation to build on – His divine nature alive in you (v. 4).

Picture a sleepless night over a struggling marriage. In Christ, you have patience to wait, self-control to listen, forgiveness to extend, and love to serve. It is not overnight perfection as growth is a process, but you are not simply scraping by waiting for your feelings to change. Instead, as an in-Christ person, you can respond in ways that love God supremely and love your neighbor sincerely. Every move forward flows from what Christ provides. Your crisis is not just a test; it is where His sufficiency works in and through you.

Confidence: Christ Locks in Your Hope

Peter seals it with a future tense promise: grow in these things, and “an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (v. 11). In a crisis, the present can suffocate the hope out of you. You have deadlines looming with losses piling up. But in Christ, your horizon stretches beyond now. He is not just patching you up; He is securing your eternity. That is not a “maybe” – it is rooted in His righteousness credited to you (v. 1).

When despair whispers, remember: in Christ, you have all you need, and He provides for you. The trial is real, but it is not the end nor is it overwhelming. This truth changes how you face your crisis today.

Do Not Postpone What Is Yours in Christ

Here is a trap to avoid: do not either postpone this until tomorrow or shove this truth into “someday.” People say, “One day, you will understand God’s plan.” Sure, eternity will reveal plenty. But Peter is saying now, in Christ, you have what it takes. Godliness is not for later; perseverance starts today. In your crisis, regardless of whatever it is, you enjoy Christ’s provision now – when you need it, it is not on backorder. Pushing it off risks missing what is already true in reality.

For example, in the instance of grieving a lost opportunity. Some may say, “God has something better ahead for you.” Maybe so. But right now, in Christ, you have everything you need in Christ to respond in a way that honors God today – kindness to share, faith to hold, peace to rest in, and an assured next step. His glory is not just in the outcome, it is in your reliance on Him today.

Questions to Ponder Today

Therefore, in your struggle, ask:

• Where am I forgetting what is mine in Christ right now?
• Am I trusting His sufficiency in this mess, or chasing my own fix?
• How can I live out what I have received in Jesus today?

God is not stingy with you. In Christ, He has provided everything for life and godliness – here, now. Whatever you are up against, whether it is huge or quiet, know this: you are not lacking in anything. In Christ, you have His power, His promises, and His presence. Stand there, and let it sustain you.