1 Peter: For His Glory, by His GraceSample

Suffering arrives in a variety of ways. It can come through a long-term illness, a friend’s judgmental opinion, or physical and/or emotional persecution because of your faith in Christ.

Everyone suffers, but what sets the Christian apart from the rest of the world is how we respond. Everything about the Christian walk is countercultural. When suffering, the world lashes out, whines, and seeks escape or solace.

But the Christian can be glad in suffering, knowing that God is at work, building a resilience that cannot be matched, and glorifying Himself in ways we cannot grasp. In suffering, “the Spirit … of God rests on you” in a tender, special way (1 Peter 4:14).

Suffering provides an opportunity to glorify God in the hardest of circumstances and “let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16) so they can see what it means to have faith, even when it hurts to believe. Your reaction to the pain you face—even if you choose not to react and just stay silent—stands out, and that kind of response glorifies God.

The act of suffering for the sake of Christ, for the Gospel, also forges a deeper connection between you and Jesus—you get to see a tiny glimpse of what He endured for us on the cross (1 Peter 4:13).

This response shows others we know about something the world doesn’t: the glory of God through trial!

1. As a Christian, did you know that you would encounter suffering and ridicule for following Christ? Have you felt ashamed because of your faith?
2. Is it difficult to trust God when you are suffering? Why or why not?
3. Are there passages in the Psalms or other verses or stories in the Bible you might want to memorize to help you through times of suffering?