On Suffering
The Christian Hope When Life Falls Apart
Suffering remains one of the hardest challenges to face, spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. Suffering often brings silence, a lack of knowing what to say and what to do. Christianity also has something to say about suffering, particularly suffering that is not self-wrought. In other words, suffering that is no fault of the sufferer, in fact, Christianity is particularly concerned with suffering for doing good. It is people in this very situation that Peter writes to in 1 and 2 Peter. So if you’ve ever wondered what the point of suffering is for the Christian, 1 Peter 1 is a help to us.
Christian Hope in Suffering
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. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:6-8
The phrase “In this you rejoice” refers to the inheritance Christians have in heaven through Christ’s resurrection. The gospel gives Christians something they can never lose. Edmond Clowney suggests that this could be translated in whom you rejoice. This would mean Jesus Christ himself. There is no separation. The good news is Jesus Christ; He delivers an imperishable inheritance for his people. The Christian’s future is incredibly bright. This secure inheritance and salvation ought to give endurance. No matter how bad it gets, there is an end date to suffering for the Christian. This hope is necessary because we live in the in-between. The already but not yet. Christ has come, he really was born, lived a perfect life, died and rose again. But eternity isn’t here yet. We live between two advents. This reality means we will be grieved. Christians across the globe face trials of various kinds, from things as simple as social ostracism to genuine martyrdom. And so did Christ, as Peter makes clear to us in 1 Peter 2:21-22: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.”
All the ‘various trials’ Christians face, Christ faced similar trials. He faced betrayal from friends, abandonment by disciples, lies from his religious leaders, oppression from political authorities, and soldiers literally stealing the clothes off his back. He knew suffering, and he knows our suffering. He is near to us in our suffering. And he gives us hope in suffering. Notice the language from 1 Peter 1:6: though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. Trouble only lasts for a little while, our living hope is forever. Suffering strengthens our faith and produces joy in Christ. 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. Suffering shows the genuineness of our faith. And it tests it. Suffering refines us, it strips us of resting in anything other than God, nothing else can help anyway. Our suffering glorifies God. It shows and will show how wonderful he is, when we choose him at the cost of all. Then he welcomes us to share in his glory through Christ. All of which will be revealed on the last day. And our reward will be great. But the benefits of Christ are not just in eternity. Christ gives joy and endurance now. We see how saints with their eyes set on Christ can withstand tribulations of all kinds. One example:
“The Museum of the Desert in the Cevennes mountains of southern France commemorates the sufferings of the Huguenot martyrs. When Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Protestant public worship was made a crime. Men caught at secret worship services in the fields were sent to the galleys. Chained to a rowing bench, they slaved at the oars until they died. A replica of one of the great galley oars hangs in the museum today. Underneath is a model of a galley. Beside it are inscribed the words of a Reformed Christian galley slave: ‘My chains are the chains of Christ’s love.’”
Amen.