1 Peter: Confidence in a Complex WorldSýnishorn

19: The Paradox of the Christian Life

Does following Jesus make life harder, or better? Just think about that for a moment.

Peter, along with the majority of Christians throughout history, would say the answer to that question is ‘yes’. 

On the one hand, life gets harder. You’re swimming against the tide, not just going with the flow of personal preference or social expectations. This inevitably leads to struggle and conflict within yourself and (often) within your web of relationships. 

On the other hand, life gets better. Much better! Just like those early Christians Peter wrote to, we are ‘blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests’ on us (4:14). As we’ve already seen throughout this journey, we receive countless blessings, a mind-blowing identity, and a world-changing purpose. We actually get to live in relationship with God: Father, Son, and Spirit. Because of this, our rejoicing can run parallel to our suffering, like two rails on a train track. 

Within this life gets harder/life gets better paradox, Peter never downplays the physical, emotional, and social pain Christians experience here and now. He describes their suffering as a ‘fiery ordeal’ (4:12). But what he does do is put suffering in perspective. When we suffer for Jesus, we should ‘not be surprised … as if something strange were happening’ to us (4:12). After all, has not suffering always been the lot of God’s people? Think of godly Abel, killed by his jealous brother (Genesis 4). Or righteous Jeremiah thrown into a muddy cistern by evil officials (Jeremiah 38). Or Jesus! Suffering does not contradict our state of blessedness, but rather reminds us of it. 

When following Jesus, we can be tempted to give up on him when things get tough. Peter had witnessed first-hand people turning from Jesus when the heat was on and he didn’t want his readers doing the same. So, having reminded them (and us) of how blessed Christians are, he makes an appeal. Even though Christians may suffer for living God’s way, they ‘should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good’ (4:19).

Today, whatever your circumstances, whatever your motivation levels, even if you may not be feeling particularly ‘blessed’, the truth is you are. You belong to Jesus, the Spirit of God rests on you, and you are known and loved by the Father. So, commit yourself to God. Keep going. Be who he calls you to be and do what he calls you to do. And by his grace, rejoice. 

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Reflect:

At this moment in time, how is following Jesus making your life better? And how is your life harder?

What stops you from turning away from Jesus when times are tough?

Pray:

Thank God for the privilege of being a follower of Jesus. Thank him for all the ways this makes your life richer. And pray that through whatever difficulties you may face, God will use them to shape and strengthen your character.