Resilient: Powerful Hope in a Dangerous WorldSample

In the midst of suffering, it can be so difficult to keep doing what is right. It can be so difficult to trust God. It can be so difficult to remember that He will never fail. When we go through trials, we must take our eyes off our suffering and fix them on Jesus. Remember, he understands our suffering. Deeply. Jesus walked this earth FULLY human (more than that, of course, but never less than that). The human condition affected Jesus, too. He experienced loss, betrayal, loneliness, and pain; he did it all so that we can have a God to whom we can fully relate. We only need to let him into our suffering. We can get his comfort and peace when we invite Jesus in and allow him to be a part of our suffering. Jesus did not suffer for us to carry it all on our own. He wants to carry it with us. He wants to tell each of us, “Me too,” and remind us of our hope in him.

Peter ends this section of his letter with an encouragement for us: “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.”

Meditate on these encouragements today. Keep on doing what is right. Trust your life to the God who created you.

He will never fail.

Reflection Questions

1. What does it mean for you that Jesus experienced the human condition?
2. What suffering do you need to let Jesus into? Where have you grown tired in your suffering? Ask the Holy Spirit to minister to you in those specific places.
3. What does it mean for you to keep doing what is right in this season? How are you trusting God in this season? Ask Him to remind you of his faithfulness.