Trusting God Through Trials

Click here for the audio message of 1 Peter 4:12-19

Peter returns to the main theme of his letter in our Scripture reading this morning. That is the idea of trials that come about in the Christian’s life. When Peter wrote this letter, Christians were just starting to be persecuted. This horrible persecution and attack of Christians would last another 200 years or so.

Persecution against Christians has never really stopped and continues to this very day around the world. So in this letter Peter gives four attitudes that are necessary to persevere through persecution.

The first thing Peter says, is to expect it. He says, “do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.” We must not be surprised by the suffering that will come our way because we follow Christ.

This suffering is not accidental. That is not the way God works. There is no chance or luck with Him. He controls all and He allows suffering to test, purge, and cleanse the believer.

Think about suffering in general for a moment. When something “bad” happens, most people think, “Why me!” Or they get so down and out depressed saying, “Why do these things always happen to me.”

We feel as if nobody understands, as if nobody else has ever gone through what we are going through. I don’t mean to belittle anyone’s pain here this morning. There is something unique to each of our own experiences, but whatever you are suffering through I am sure there are others out there who have gone through the same thing or at least something very similar.

Feeling alone? Feeling depressed? Have you lost a loved one? Trouble with your job, marriage, or children? Trouble with the law or the IRS?

You are not alone in this world. Even when you feel like the world is against you, God is still there waiting with open arms for you. Suffering is a normal Christian experience. God has a purpose in our suffering.

The second attitude to have regarding suffering is to rejoice in it. “Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s suffering.” Why are we to rejoice through our trials? Because the Christian who suffers FOR Christ suffers WITH Christ.

Suffering prepares us for the coming of Christ. When we are persecuted for righteousness in this life, we can rejoice knowing that our rewards await us in Heaven. There is no shortcut when living for Christ. There is no easy way.

Suffering is a part of the Christian’s life, it develops us. We should rejoice in our sufferings for righteousness sake. When you endure through suffering God “rests on you.”

This means that when a believer is suffering for Christ, God is there with them, strengthening them and enabling them to endure the suffering. The greatest proof that you are a true believer is your God given ability to endure through suffering. And that is something to rejoice over.

But sometimes we suffer because we did wrong and that is the third attitude toward suffering that we are to have. Peter tells us we are to evaluate the reason why we are suffering.

If we sin and suffer for it we cannot glorify God for our suffering. But we can glorify God through our witness during our suffering. For example, a Christian sins and kills someone. They are sent to prison and will no doubt suffer the consequences of their actions in prison.

This is not suffering for Christ. God is not gloried because they are suffering for their sin. However, if the person lives out their faith in prison and witnesses to the other inmates, then God can be glorified through that person’s life.

You see the difference and the distinction there. We should take responsibility for our actions and suffer the consequences when we do wrong. When we suffer for Christ, God will get the glory He rightly deserves and we will be rewarded eternally.

Notice some of the sins Peter lists there: murder, theft, crimes, or troublesome meddler. When you murder someone, steal something, or commit any type of crime you should be prepared to suffer the consequences of your sin. But notice that last item, the troublesome meddler, the busy body, the gossiper.

Peter makes no distinction between that and murder. Sure, you probably won’t go to prison for gossiping, but it is still sin and you should be prepared to suffer for your actions.

The final attitude of godly suffering is trusting it all to God. God is the creator of all. When we commit our lives to God, we are simply giving back to Him that which He already created and owned.

As the Creator, God knows what His creation needs, better than we do. When you entrust your life to God, He will take care of you and will supply all your needs according to His riches.

Think about your sufferings this week. Have you suffered because of your sin, probably. Have you suffered for Christ, possibly.

Although, most of us have probably never really experience violent physical persecution for Christ, but we should still expect it and rejoice in it and entrust God with our lives.

Maybe the suffering for Christ that we have experienced is simply being excluded from the crowd, maybe we were called names, or ridiculed for our beliefs. Whatever our suffering may be, we need to simple trust God and ask Him for the strength to persevere through it all.

Closing Prayer

Lord, you never said this life will be easy for us. Yes, we will all be invited to that Heavenly feast one day, but life is no picnic. We ask for your strength through the troubles and trials that come our way.

Teach us to rely on You so that we may persevere through to the end, all so that you may be honored and glorified.

AMEN