Glorifying God in your suffering

Question: What is a fiery trial? Another translation puts it, painful trial. The word Peter used literally means fire. Almost always it was used of fire that consumed something. Those who received Peter’s letter knew about fiery trials as the persecution of Christians that began under Nero continued to harass and unjustly punish those who were walking with the Lord. Used figuratively, it means something that, unchecked, will destroy you.

Today a fiery trial could be sickness such as cancer, an unjust lawsuit that threatens to wipe out your resources, or a drought that leaves your crops in the field burned and worthless. And for some it could mean overt persecution or imprisonment.

Peter gives us guidelines on handling those fiery trials. First, he says, “Don’t be surprised when it happens.” In simple terms, nobody’s exempt from the harsh sinfulness of living in a broken world. Then he says, “Rejoice!” Rejoice? Yes, because you are partaking of Christ’s suffering. He also has a warning. Don’t suffer as one who is evil. He says, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evil doer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.”

Then, says Peter, glorify God in your suffering. To glorify God means to make God look good in the way you handle your fiery trial. You don’t stoop to the same level as those who wrong you. You don’t fight fire with fire. You pray for your enemies and realize a sovereign God will someday have His payday – so you don’t concern yourself with taking vengeance. You remind yourself that vengeance is God’s responsibility; yours is to react to wrong and evil as Jesus did.

Finally, says Peter, “Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19).

Used with permission from Guidelines International Ministries. To learn more about Guidelines and the ministry, send an e-mail to [email protected]. You may also visit www.guidelines.org.