Thoughts on 1 Peter 1

Today’s reading: Isaiah 15-16; 1 Peter 1

Given how comfort-seeking and suffering-averse our culture is, it cuts a sharp contrast to read Peter, along with so many other New Testament authors, writing that the testing of our faith through suffering is incredibly valuable.

In 1 Peter 1, Peter says:

"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."

It is not their faith in general that Peter calls more precious than gold, but specifically the tested genuineness of their faith that he considers precious. In the midst of suffering and persecution, Peter sees cause for rejoicing in that their faith is being tested and refined by their sufferings.

I have been blessed not to have to suffer much for my faith, but it has certainly happened before. My response to suffering is generally to either whine about it or to just try to function through it until it is over (or both). I don't tend to have this outlook that Peter does, seeing the testing of my faith by suffering as something to rejoice in because of what it is ultimately producing, and I'm assuming I'm not the only one that struggles to have this outlook or else he probably wouldn't have felt the need to write it in the first place.

I think what got me thinking about this this morning is that, having just finished reading James, he says something very similar. In James 1, he tells his readers, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Similarly, in Romans 5, Paul also says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

This is a common theme throughout thew New Testament that the testing of our faith through suffering is actually a very good thing. While the suffering may not be desirable, the outcome is.

I don't really honestly have all that much to say about this this morning, other than to say this is something I need the Lord to change my heart on. I don't want to be afraid of suffering and shy away from it such that I cut off good work that the Lord is trying to do in my heart, and I also don't feel like putting my head down and just trying to function through/past suffering until it's gone will ever have the kind of results the New Testament authors describe. I need God to give me His perspective here.