Life can be hard. We've all gone through seaons of life when we felt beaten down and discouraged. Maybe you're going through a season like that right now. The Apostle Peter wrote the letter that we know as 1 Peter to Christians who were being persecuted because of their faith. They were being threatened, harassed, beaten, and killed - all for believing in the name of Jesus. They were suffering mightily at the hands of cruel men. Peter wrote to encourage and strengthen them. He wrote to remind them of the hope that they had. He wrote to challenge them to STAND firm in the face of all opposition. He wanted to call them to STAND courageously for their Lord and Savior. It is my prayer that we will take his words to heart - and that we too might STAND.