There are many preachers that make a really good living preaching what is called the “prosperity gospel”, which in my humble opinion, is not the true gospel at all. It is not truth, and it definitely isn’t the gospel. While it may sound good to hear that God wants to bless you and that the Christian life is supposed to be trouble-free and full of blessings, that isn’t what I see when I read my Bible. In fact, I’d like to invite you to take a look at First Peter with me.
It is a short book with only five chapters, and I have read it twice today. Why? I read it the first time as part of my quiet time, and I reread it just now to count how many times the words suffer or suffering were used. They were used a total of fifteen times in this short little book! This was why it caught my attention this morning as I read… it kept coming up! Fifteen times in this book, the apostle plainly tells us that suffering will indeed be a part of the Christian life.
In fact, in chapter two verse twenty-one, he says, “For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.” He is saying that suffering is not just part of life; it is part of the believer’s calling. He reaffirms this in the first verse of chapter four. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve- because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin.”
There is an important word to note in that last verse, resolve. If we wish to follow Christ’s example, we will need to have the resolve to do so. This means we must have a firm determination to follow Christ’s example and respond to suffering in the way that He did. How did He respond? “when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; When He was suffering, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to the one who judges justly” (2:23). That’s the example we are encouraged to follow.
Jesus didn’t respond in the flesh; He didn’t do what comes natural to us when we are suffering. He chose to entrust Himself to God and let God take care of Him and take care of the situation. That is the behavior we are encouraged to model. Ouch! If you are anything like me, this just made you a little uncomfortable. Honestly, it made me more than a little uncomfortable! This is not how I like to respond to suffering. This is not how I usually respond to suffering if I am being honest.
It is not how I want to respond to suffering, but it is how I am supposed to respond to suffering if I desire to honor Him. If I want to honor Him, if I want to follow His example, I need to learn to be more like Jesus! Suffering is unavoidable, it will happen and when it does, I must be resolved to respond in a godly way that follows Christ’s example. I must choose to trust God to take care of me and help me through whatever trials may come my way.
It is also important to remember that suffering has a purpose. Christ’s suffering brought salvation and freedom. It may not feel like, in fact, it rarely does, but good can come out of our suffering as well. The first chapter of First Peter tells us that the genuineness our faith is proven through trials and difficulties, which then result in “praise, glory, and honor”. Our suffering can grow and mature our faith while also bringing glory and honor to His name.
No one wants to suffer, and this isn’t exactly the most encouraging subject to talk about. However, suffering is a part of life and when we have this settled in our minds, we can be better equipped to handle it when it comes. Since we know that suffering will come, we must do “what is good” while we entrust ourselves “to a faithful Creator.” We must do our best to pursue holy living, while we determine that we will allow our suffering to fulfill His purpose for us.
This is not an easy calling, and I am finding it difficult to type these words, but I must speak truth, even if I am stepping all over my own toes! I must remind myself that He is trustworthy, and He will not allow any unnecessary suffering. If He allows it, it must have a purpose. I may not understand what it is, but I can choose to trust Him. I can choose to trust Him, and I can choose to look for the lesson in the midst of the suffering. I can ask the hard questions I rarely want to ask.
I can choose to ask questions that get to the heart of the matter. What are You trying to teach me through this? What can I learn from this? What might You be trying to reveal to me through this hard thing I am facing? How can I let this make me more like You? Oh my. Friend, I hope that you have stuck with me and are still reading along. More than that I hope that you feel the stirrings of the Holy Spirit empowering you to look at your sufferings differently.
I hope that you too are being challenged to more authentic living. I hope you too are being challenged to dig in a little deeper and allow these Scriptures to speak to your heart like they have to mine. I hope you will join me in asking Him for the courage to follow Christ’s example and learn to respond more like Him when faced with difficulties and suffering. I have a long way to go, my sweet friend, but I want to get there. I want to be more like my Jesus and less like me!
I don’t want to just read the Scriptures and not let them change me. I want His Word to challenge me and change me. I want to look a little more like Him with each passing year. I want to grow and mature. I do not want to stay the same, continuing to make excuses instead of progress. I don’t just want to grow old; I want to grow up! I want to be used by Him and if this is to happen, I have to learn to be more like Jesus. I have to learn to follow His example. Dear heart, I hope you feel the same!
Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. 1 Peter 5:10
Katrina Douglas
6/24/2022
