Suffering is a sad reality in life. Jesus said that in this world, we will face tribulation and suffering (John 16:33). It is one reality that we cannot avoid. It is inevitable. Suffering comes from a couple of causes. We face suffering as a result of living in this fallen world. Sometimes we face suffering as a result of our own disobedience. Sometimes, we can discern no reason for why life takes the turns it does because sometimes, we simply suffer for the glory of God. Like Job, we may never know why. Whatever the reason, none of us enjoys suffering. Suffering forms the backdrop for Peter’s letter. Peter is writing to Christians dispersed throughout Asia Minor. These exiled Christians were in a period of suffering and persecution. Peter is writing to encourage the church to stand firm in their faith. Our perspective on suffering dictates how we weather it. If we make our circumstances bigger than God (and at times we do), our circumstances can overwhelm us. If we live with the eternal perspective sacred Scripture points us to, these times are easier to bear. Peter opened this letter reminding us of where our true and great hope is found “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5). In 1 Peter 5:6-10, Peter gives three steps for facing the inevitable times of suffering we will face in. First, he instructs us to submit to God (v 6). “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…” The world sees humility as a weakness, and pride as a virtue. The Bible teaches the opposite; we strive for humility and meekness. Humility is the virtue of Christ for which must strive because “God opposes the proud, but grace to the humble” (5:5; James 4:6). It is the virtue we need the most, but it is the one that comes least naturally to us. Pride is our greatest enemy. Humility is our greatest friend. Peter says we must humble ourselves“ under the mighty hand of God.” In the OT, God’s hand is his protective power over His people (e.g. Exod. 13:9). Peter is calling us to trust in God’s power to care for us. He will sustain us in these times, even the darkest of times. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Sometimes, the greatest evidence we have of this truth is that we are still standing in the midst of them because life deals us times and seasons of life that we cannot bear on our own. And “at the proper time he may exalt us” if we trust Him to carry us through the fire. Psalm 34:19 states, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” God’s help will come just when we need it. He always gives us grace sufficient for the moment (2 Cor. 12:9). Human strength and endurance has its limits, but God’s strength is infinite. Peter writes, “(cast) all your anxieties upon (the Lord) because he cares for you” (v 7). Our natural emotions lead us straight into anxiety in these times of suffering. Anxiety causes us to forget how much God loves us and cares for us. Anxiety is a detrimental emotion, attacking our hearts and minds. Our union with Christ gives us protection from anxiety (Phil 4:6-7). Peter next calls us to alertness. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (V 8). Peter is warning us about the source of many – but not all – of our temptations and sufferings: our adversary, the devil. Our battle is not solely against flesh and blood, but spiritual powers, spiritual wickedness (Eph. 6:12). We cannot ever underestimate the enemy. He is restless and ruthless. He never has any pity on any of us. Jesus had strong words about his character.“ He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). Peter states that he prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. So Peter warns us: be sober, be on the alert. Finally, Peter calls us to resistance. “Resist him, firm in your faith…” (V 9). Alertness is only half the battle. We must also be resistant. And do not miss how Peter tells us to resist him. Peter says “resist him, firm in your faith.” It is not in our own power that we resist the roaring lion. It is through the mighty power of God. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph. 6:10). James has a similar exhortation. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4). We stand firm in our faith against the enemy. We have the abiding presence of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. We also have access to God through prayer. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). And we have a weapon to wield in this battle: God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit. Remember Christ’s temptation in the wilderness (Matt. 4; Luke 4)? How did he prevail? He vanquished the enemy through the word of God. “It is written…”. We cannot take the enemy lightly, but we have nothing to fear when we rest in the Lord and in the power of his might. The design of Satan in bringing suffering is to cause us to turn away from God. He delights when we have a higher view of our circumstances than we do of God. Suffering is an inevitable reality. As Christians, we will face suffering and fears like everyone else, but as Christians, we are equipped to handle them better than anyone else. The unbelieving world is not equipped to handle suffering well. Peter ends with a divine promise. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (V 10). Peter tells us after God’s ordained time, the God of all grace will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. He will personally deliver us. For some, it may not be an earthly deliverance, but if that is his will, don’t we receive a far greater deliverance? Suffering is a part of life, but Paul reminds us that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us (Rom. 8:18). The glory is just as inevitable as the suffering. And the glory will far surpass any suffering we may encounter. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah the following words of comfort: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you pass through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3). There is nothing more to add than what Peter proclaims in v 11: “To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
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