Responding Well to Suffering | 1 Peter 4:12-19
Peter encourages Christians to respond to suffering in three ways: (1) not shock but joy, (2) not shame but glory, and (3) not disobedience but trust. This sermon is part 10 of "A Fisherman's Passion," Bryan Craddock's verse-by-verse series on 1 Peter 2:11-5:14.
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Have you ever been woken up by a dream that you are falling? It is a frightening sensation and for good reason. Every year millions of people are injured by falls, and most of those incidents do not involve great heights. A simple stumble or slip can have very painful consequences. Our bodies are more fragile than we like to admit.
But some people are good at falling. It is an essential skill in a lot of sports. We may not see it in their final performance, but gymnasts fall countless times in training. Football players get knocked down repeatedly. But most of the time they manage to fall in such a way that they can shake it off and get back up again. It’s all part of the game.
With all the ways that life in this world knocks us down, we need to be good at falling. When we are tackled by times of suffering, we need to be able to respond well. The Apostle Peter wrote 1 Peter to equip Christians for hard times. Many of his lessons help us deal with any difficulties that we face. The first part of the letter encourages us with the hope of salvation that gives us light in our darkest times.
But the middle of the book focuses specifically on preparing us as believers to face opposition to our faith. At the end of chapter 3, Peter explains what Jesus accomplished through his suffering, and in chapter 4 he calls us to adopt the same mindset. We should be passionately devoted to fulfilling the church’s mission, because we are living in the end times. But we must be ready to face opposition.
So, in 1 Peter 4:12-19, Peter encourages Christians to respond to suffering in three ways. He has already alluded to each one earlier in the letter, but he reiterates them here to make them clear before sharing his concluding thoughts in chapter 5. If you have been tracking with our study of the book, these ideas will be familiar. But we must check our hearts to see whether we are prepared to respond well to suffering.
Not Shock but Joy
I assume that most people who enlist in the military know what they are getting themselves into. They are not going to a resort. Their training will not be leisurely. Even if a less than honest recruiter told them otherwise, they should not be shocked when they find the experience to be intense and demanding. It is designed to transform them physically and mentally.
We should have a similar expectation about following Jesus. He was mocked, insulted, rejected, and crucified. Why would anyone think that the Christian life would be easy?
But people do think that way. Some take the gospel as a promise of health, wealth, and success here and now. Others assume that the church can exert enough power in society to overrule all opposition. These views misunderstand the hope of the gospel and the reality of following Christ in a fallen world.
Peter corrects our expectations. We will face times of suffering, and when we do, we should respond not with shock but joy. In 1 Peter 4:12, he says,
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
We often use the word surprise in a positive sense, but that is not the idea here. Some translations say, “do not think it strange”. We should not view suffering as weird or unusual. We should not be shocked when it comes our way
Peter describes it as a fiery ordeal, or literally a burning. This description suggests that it will be painful. But it also reminds us of something Peter mentioned back in verses 6 and 7 of chapter 1. After celebrating the hope of salvation, he said,
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Fire purifies and refines gold, demonstrating that it is genuine. God uses trials to accomplish the same purpose in our lives. He is transforming us spiritually, and that should lead to joy. But our joy should not be rooted in the pride of personal accomplishment like you might feel after completing a military boot camp. Our joy is based in our association with Jesus and our anticipation of his return. In verse 13 of chapter 4, Peter says,
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
When you believe in Jesus, you are spiritually united with him. He takes on our sins and pays the price for them in his death. His resurrection imparts eternal life to us. But that connection also means that we become a target of the same hostility that was directed at him. Are you willing to accept that?
Opposition may come from people or from spiritual forces. As we see in the Old Testament story of Job, it can take the form of verbal attacks, physical violence, or even sickness and adverse weather. As hard as it is to suffer, we can be encouraged because it confirms that we are on the right side—the winning side.
Our joy is not just that our suffering will one day cease. It is that Jesus will return in glory. He will assert his reign and triumph over all opposition. Our faith will be publicly vindicated, and all injustice will be set right. So, Peter calls us to set our hope on that event, but we are not left to fight the battle alone until then. In verse 14, he says,
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
As believers, we are never alone in our suffering. Part of the good news of salvation is that God’s Spirit dwells within us. Acts 2 tells us that this idea was the main point of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. Those who repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ receive forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
In 1 Peter 1:2, Peter also mentioned the sanctification of the Spirit. The Spirit helps us understand truth and convicts us of sin so that we will turn away from sin and walk in holiness. He also comforts us and strengthens us. Jesus spoke of him as the Helper (Jn 14:26).
So, when the early church experienced persecution, the Spirit gave them peace and empowered their ministry. Acts 9:31 tells us,
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
So, don’t be shocked when you experience suffering. Accept it as part of following Jesus in this fallen world. Draw upon the comfort of the Holy Spirit and find your joy in the anticipation of Christ’s return in glory.
Not Shame but Glory
Some athletes know how to make the most of a penalty. They perform for the referee and sprawl on the ground. They stomp around and demand justice for the terrible offense committed against them. Of course, the officials cannot see everything. But in professional sports there are cameras everywhere, and an instant replay often shows what really happened.
In the game of life, some people are quick to claim that they are suffering for the Lord. But he is not some blind referee who is fooled by some drama. He does not need an instant replay. He knows the true source of our suffering. So, Peter offers a warning for believers. Don’t let your suffering be rooted in shameful deeds but in a life lived for the glory of God. In 1 Peter 4:15-16, he says,
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Peter starts with the obvious. Murderers and thieves are not suffering in the name of Christ. Their behavior calls into question whether they have come to repentance. Furthermore, though they might claim to be persecuted, their experience is almost certainly a consequence of their crime. Even if those consequences are harsh and cruel, their suffering does not stem from glory but shame. Now since we know the powerful slavery of sin, we should still have compassion upon such people and should offer them the hope of salvation as Jesus did with the thief hanging on the cross next to him.
It is no surprise that Peter also views the suffering experienced by evildoers as shameful. But the term evildoer is uncomfortably broad. To some degree it applies to us all. No Christian should be an unrepentant doer of evil, but none of us are sinless. When we succumb to temptation, we often suffer painful consequences that stem from shame not glory, and most of us recognize that distinction.
It is the fourth person in Peter’s list that comes as a surprise—meddler. The King James Version uses the word busybody. This is someone who tries to oversee the affairs of others. Meddling is never explicitly identified as sin, but it is almost certainly rooted in pride.
Think of Job’s counselors and their mistaken advice about his suffering. It is arrogant to assume that you know how to fix everyone’s problems. Even the humblest attempt at meddling is still foolish. Proverbs 26:17 says, “Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.”
In other words, when you meddle, you are bound to get bitten. There are consequences for foolish busybodies. People may lash out in some way, and when that happens, you cannot say that you are suffering as a Christian for the glory of Jesus.
So, is evangelism a type of meddling? I don’t think so. At least, it shouldn’t be. Evangelism invites people to believe in Jesus and receive his forgiveness. If they are not interested in listening, then we should move on (Matt 10:14). Meddling, however, pesters people with moralistic dos and don’ts, seeking to wear them down.
I think it is safe to say that Satan’s goal is to squelch the preaching of the gospel, and persecution is one of his tactics for doing so. But an alternative approach is to give Christians a degree of influence in society. Looking back over church history, we see that as the church gains power it often drifts away from evangelism and replaces it with moralistic meddling. It calls people to be good, but that implies that they are able to do so and thus have no real need for the gospel.
The Bible is clear that no one can do good apart from Christ. We are all sinners in need of salvation, and that creates a problem for moralistic meddling. People become frustrated. If they sincerely try to do good, they fail. They feel conviction over their sin. But moralism offers no hope, and meddlers keep harping upon them. Some may respond by rejecting the “Christian” view of morality, but that does not ease their conscience. So, sooner or later they lash out at judgmental meddlers to silence them.
As Peter says, we should not suffer as meddlers. It does not glorify God. It is shameful if we undermine the gospel in that way. God is glorified when we faithfully proclaim the gospel of Christ in a humble way that reflects his compassion and grace. That is what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Christ.
Even when we stay focused on evangelism, Satan may still incite people to lash out at us. But if they do, our suffering becomes part of our worship. We can respond as the apostle did. Acts 5:40-41 tells us,
and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
Don’t provoke suffering through shameful behavior. Glorify God by faithfully representing Jesus and his gospel.
Not Disobedience but Trust
Some people are really excited about the possibility of having self-driving vehicles. But even if all the technical bugs get worked out, and the cars drive perfectly, I am not sure that we will ever accept them. We would not be able to sit back and let the car drive. We would always be questioning its decisions, and we certainly would not be content with driving the speed limit. We like being in control.
We have the same problem with suffering. We question God’s decisions. We want to take control and get our suffering over as soon as possible. We may ignore his commands, if we think it will give us some relief. But we need to sit back and let him drive. We must respond to suffering not in disobedience but trust.
Peter has referred to suffering as God’s refining fire. But as he comes to verses 17-18, he takes this concept a step farther. He relates it to God’s judgment. He says,
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
We often think of judgment in connection with the return of Christ, and there is good reason to do so. Jesus, Paul, Peter, John and Jude all refer to a coming day of judgment. But Peter’s mention of judgment beginning with God’s house brings to mind some statements made by the Old Testament prophets (Isa 10:12; Jer 26:29; Ezek 9:6). When God’s people disobeyed, he brought nations against Jerusalem: first the Assyrians and then the Babylonians. He used those nations to discipline his people. But in time he also brought judgment upon those nations for their hostility toward his people.
Peter envisions the church undergoing a similar process. When we stray from the truth of the gospel, he may use suffering and persecution to drive us back to it. We see this play out in the book of Acts. Acts 1:8 tells us that Jesus wanted his followers to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. But most believers remained in Jerusalem until they were scattered by persecution (Acts 8:1).
A moment ago, I described evangelism as the communication of God’s gracious invitation. But it is also the proclamation of his holy command. His gospel demands a response of repentance and faith. His Son gave his life for us. How could anyone reject him?
The fact of the matter is that even believers are prone to drift. In verse 18, Peter quotes the Septuagint version of Proverbs 11:31 where it says that the righteous are scarcely saved. Our salvation is entirely of God’s grace. He provides for it through sending his Son and he graciously uses suffering to keep us on that path.
So, the Proverb asks what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? They will face something far worse than a little temporary suffering. That is a frightening thought, but it does not have to be. We are all invited to believe in Jesus and his gospel. We can humbly place our life in God’s hands. So, in verse 19, Peter says,
Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Sometimes when people suffer, they become obsessed with finding out why. You find Job’s counselors engaging in this kind of speculation It’s a way of trying to gain back some sense of control. At least, I’ll know what’s going on. But Peter calls us to give up control. Accept your suffering as God’s will for you.
Entrust your soul to him, because he is our faithful Creator. Then do good. Turn from sin. Walk in obedience. Show kindness even to those who are hostile. That is what Jesus did. Luke 23:33-34 tells us,
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
His statement shows us how a gospel-shaped heart responds to suffering. He prays for the salvation of those who just stripped off his clothes and drove the spikes into his hands and feet. If we believe in him, then we should follow his example. Respond to suffering not in disobedience but in trust.
__________
So, how do you respond to suffering in your life? Don’t be shocked by it. Rejoice in the hope of Christ’s return and draw comfort from the Holy Spirit. Live in such a way so that your suffering does not become a matter of shame but of glorifying God. Rather than disobeying the gospel, entrust your soul fully to God.
Some of us think of saving faith as the acceptance of certain beliefs. While that is true, faith also includes a sense of surrender. We must trust the Lord to save us in eternity and to guide us through life here and now. So, if you have never done so, I urge you to entrust your soul to God. As Peter says, he is faithful. If you want to learn more about his faithfulness in hard times, Romans 8 would be a good chapter to read.
Perhaps this passage has brought to mind some area of sin in your life. Don’t wait for God to bring some kind of discipline. Turn away from that behavior and do good. Follow the example of Jesus in his suffering and in his proclamation of the gospel. People may be hostile, but we should accept the possibility of suffering for Jesus.
May we walk by faith and grow in Christlikeness!
Reflect
What expectations have you had about suffering? How do they compare with this passage?
How have you responded to previous times of suffering? What would you do differently next time?
How should this passage shape our encouragement to others who are undergoing trials?