When You Suffer

Introduction

I hope you brought your Bible with you. If you didn’t, there should be one provided for you in the pew in front of you. If you’ll grab that and go to the New Testament with me to the book of 1 Peter. 1 Peter chapter 1. We’ll be spending our time in 1 Peter this morning, and as always, you’ll benefit by turning along and reading and studying with us as we study God’s word this morning. Some of you like a heads up about what the sermon’s going to be about. And so somebody asked me this morning, what are we going to get this today? And I said, suffering. To which they replied, Oh, Greg’s preaching. Now, Greg, I want you to know I came to your defense.

I said, Kashka, that’s not nice. Obviously, I’m kidding. I didn’t come to Greg’s defense. I don’t want to talk about suffering. It’s a part of the human experience, is it not? Whether the suffering that we experience is as it many times may be suffering that results from our own poor decisions. Or whether it’s suffering that comes about as persecution or temptation for making the stand for God and Christ Jesus in our life. Or maybe the suffering is just what we might call general suffering that’s just a part of being in this flawed, cursed planet. We all suffer. You may be suffering this morning. Suffering takes different paths, does it not?

You may be suffering financially. Maybe a loss of a job or the difficulty in finding a new job, or medical bills, or circumstances in life have made it such that you feel the constant burden of every bill that has to be paid. And you live in the fear and the dread of something breaking down or something happening that’s going to add further weight and financial burden to you. Maybe you’re suffering emotionally, mentally in some way, in some sense. You may be struggling to just put a smile on your face from day to day. You may be suffering in some spiritual way. Temptation and sin just seems to flood your soul such that you don’t know whether you’re going to be able to withstand. Maybe your spiritual suffering comes as a result of others.

Maybe family members, siblings or parents, or children are not living the life of a Christian as they ought. And that burdens you emotionally and spiritually. Maybe you’re suffering physically. Maybe this a general aches and pains and sicknesses of life, but it seems like you can’t catch a break. Maybe a diagnosis, whether it’s the health diagnosis of yourself or again of some family member. And you’re thinking of all the treatments and the surgeries and the pain and maybe death that will follow. And it seems just overwhelming. Maybe you’re just suffering because of age. And the ailments and the pains that come with that, as the wise man in the book of Ecclesiastes says, the clouds appear after the rain. You get over one thing just in time to get something else.

We all suffer.

What will we do? How will we react as men and women of faith when we suffer? The epistle of 1 Peter was written to a group of people who were suffering. Notice the introduction in 1 Peter chapter 1 and in verse 1. After speaking, and we’ll come back to this, after speaking of their hope that they had, he said in verse 6 of chapter 1, 1 Peter, in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. And throughout this letter, he’s going to talk about those trials, that suffering, that tribulation that they were undergoing. In fact, this epistle was written because they were suffering, and it was written to help them through that suffering. I want us to glean four lessons that the Holy Spirit, through Peter, gave these suffering people.

1. Remember That It Won’t Last

And maybe we can make application in our own lives as we’re going through our own suffering. And so when you’re suffering, remember these four things. First of all, please remember that it won’t last. It’s just temporary. That’s hard for us to focus on sometimes because we live in the here and now. We live with the five senses, and many times we’re restricted by those five senses, and we’re restricted from the timeline of birth and to death, and we need to raise our focus and realize that whatever we may experience in this life, if we have the suffering of pitiful Job in this life, that that’ll be just a speck in eternity. That it’s just temporary. Notice the expressions throughout. Remember, we said this letter was written to people who were suffering about their suffering.

Notice the language that is sprinkled throughout. In the very first verse, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims. Your translation may say strangers or sojourners. However, that word is translated, it means people who are just passing through. Pilgrims. We sing the song, This world is not my home. I’m just passing through. We need to remember the words of that refrain when we’re going through suffering. He says, You’re just pilgrims. You’re just transients who are living through this time. Notice what he says again in verse 6 that we read. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you’ve been grieved by various trials. Sojourners and pilgrims, he’ll say in chapter 2 and in verse 11. And then over in the last chapter, chapter 5 and in verse 10.

He’ll say, But now may the God of all grace who called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after you have suffered a while. Perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. Suffering can be made tolerable, can be made bearable if we remember it’s just temporary. I’ve told you before that I don’t like going to the dentist. There’s nothing about that experience I like. I’m sorry. Recently, before we moved here, I had a root canal. Anything worse than going to the dentist, it’s going to the dentist for a root canal. And I know it doesn’t reflect great upon me, but I have to still myself and my resolve when I’m going to the dentist. And one thing I keep telling myself, they close at five.

2. You’re Sharing in Christ Jesus

Even if I have the first appointment in the morning, they’ll quit by five. It’s only going to last a little while. And I know that’s hard to see when you’re in the midst of the darkness, when you’re in the valley, but remind yourself that you’re just a stranger here. That you have no permanent address. You’re just passing through, and that this suffering, however terrible it might be at the moment, is going to pass. As Christians, we have the benefit that we’ve read the last chapter of the book. We know how this ends. And it ends well for us. The second thing Peter would say is to remember that when you’re suffering, especially if that suffering is the result of persecution, that you’re sharing in Christ Jesus.

You are put in noble company. Look in 1 Peter chapter 2. And in verse 20, beginning. Peter’s going to talk about two different types of suffering here, one commendable, one not. First the non-commendable, verse 20 of 1 Peter 2, for what credit is it if when you’re beaten for your faults you take it patiently. But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps, who committed no sin, nor was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, did not revile again. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but he committed himself to him who judged righteously, who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.

He says, if you’re suffering and it’s your fault, then it’s your fault. But if you’re suffering, not because of something that you’ve brought upon yourself, if you’re suffering just the travails of life, and particularly your suffering because you’re a Christian, you’re following in Christ’s footsteps. There’s admirable. There’s admirable respect to be had for those who suffer as a Christian. Because not only are you there with those who were beaten and persecuted, those Christians of the first century, not only are you in the category of a Job or of an Abraham or of a Joseph who suffered under the old covenant, but most importantly, you stand in the ranks of Christ Jesus Himself. Who suffered. Two lessons from that. Number one is take some honor in that.

3. Leading to Something That Will Be Worth It All

But also realize, as the Hebrew writer said, that perfects Christ. That equips Christ to be able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Because he has been there. So remember when you’re suffering, you’re in good company. But also remember that if you’re suffering either because you’re a Christian or you’re suffering as a Christian, we said it’s going to be temporary. But that’s only half the story. And not even the best half. Not only is it temporary, but it’s leading to something that will be worth it all.

His introduction to this epistle of suffering and the hope that we can have in it begins this way. 1 Peter 1, verse 3 blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Remember that the suffering that you experience as a Christian in this life is going to be worth it. We might illustrate that. We talked about the dentist. Let’s turn it up a notch. How about surgery?

How about major surgery? I spent a lot of time in hospital waiting rooms while people are being operated on. It gives me time to think. And I think about surgery. Ever think about what an odd experience that really is. That we’ll volunteer. Not only volunteer, we’ll pay to go to a hospital and have them give us such strong drugs that it puts us so asleep that they can cut, remove, hammer, and you don’t even know what was going on. And they’ll cut you open. And they’ll take something out. Maybe put something back in. And do all. And you signed up for that. They didn’t kidnap you. Why? You ever stop and think, why would I volunteer to have that done to me? The answer is obvious.

It’s because you have the belief and the hope that after you get through this uncomfortable, miserable maybe experience, it’s going to actually be better for you. That new knee will make it so that you can walk pain free. That procedure in your heart will make it so that you can enjoy life and maybe even live longer and see your grandchildren grow up and graduate and get married. We see the end result, and so we’re willing to go through sometimes what might be otherwise unthinkable experiences to get to that end goal.

No wonder he begins this epistle on suffering by saying, Blessed be the God and Father of all mercy. That when you’ve gone through this, that you’ll experience that hope that is reserved for you in heaven. It’s worth it. Next.

4. The Suffering May Actually Be Beneficial

That the suffering may actually be beneficial. Now that’s a hard pill to swallow, I admit. Especially again when you’re in the darkness of that valley. It’s hard to raise your eyes and say, I’m so glad this happened to me. I wish it had come sooner. But if we put on our spiritual Christian thinking caps, we can see the reality that there is. There can be some benefit to suffering. Look, look at the text with me. In chapter 1, again, verses 6 and 7. He says, In this, in this hope, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you’ve been grieved by various trials. That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This suffering, whether it be the suffering they were experiencing, the persecution that came as being a result of a Christian, or just the general suffering of life that you and I may be experiencing this very day, can be a test to see how genuine your faith is. You see, faith isn’t made in a crisis, it’s revealed in a crisis. When Satan was talking to God about Job. He said, Of course, Job’s a good guy. Look what all you’ve done for him. You strip all of that away, make him suffer, and you’ll see who he really is. To that extent, Satan was right. Now he was dead wrong about who Job really was, but he was right in the sense that it’s in suffering that we see what we’re really made of.

That the testing of the genuineness of your faith may be revealed, he says. You’re going to sail across the ocean. Do you want to do that in a boat that’s never been in the water? Or would you say, can we test it first? Can we put it in the water first? In fact, I don’t want it in the shallow water of Lake Conway.

And not on the calmest day. How do I know? That my faith is not superficial. How do I know my faith is genuine and real? How do I know I really serve God? As the challenge to Job was, I serve God for naught. I learned that when I suffer. Turn over to chapter 5. 1 Peter chapter 5. Verse 10 again says, May the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

I don’t think it’s accidental that he says, after you’ve suffered, may God grant you that you would be perfected, established, strengthened, and settled. Do you see that it’s the suffering that’s going to grant you that? Not only does it test your faith to see if it’s real, but Peter also says it’s going to make your faith real. It’s going to strengthen you. If you’ll let it.

If we’ll see them.

Suffering may be the only thing that equips us to help someone else. Oh, those of us who maybe haven’t experienced a particular type of suffering, we can be there. We can try to say the right thing. But we know that real comfort and help comes from people who have been through the same thing. Especially if they’ve been through the same thing and come through with their faith intact. God has now equipped you, and don’t squander this opportunity. If you’ve lost parents, you can now help somebody who’s going through the grieving process of losing or having recently lost their parents. If you’ve lost a child or a spouse, you, and understand, you alone are equipped for that task. If you’ve had cancer, if you’ve had a breakdown in your life, if you’ve had an unfaithful spouse or unfaithful children, you and you alone are equipped to find somebody else who’s going through that and say, you can make it because I did.

Another benefit of suffering is that it reminds us that this world is not our home. I don’t know if this is God’s intent in allowing suffering to be the result of sin. But maybe it’s just a byproduct of it to think that I don’t want to put my hope here. I don’t want to lay up my treasures here. I want something else. Something better. As a young person, if we ever contemplate death, we don’t like to think about it. Because the death is the end of life. And I don’t want to end this life. I’ve got so much living to do. But a faithful Christian who has suffered physically and gone through that disease and it’s ravished their body, their family, their finances, their mental capacity.

They may say what the apostle Paul said, for me to depart and be with Christ is far better. And to some degree, every bit of suffering should make us long for home. Long for a better place.

5. God’s Protection Is Always There

And to be filled with hope. Lastly, Peter says to remember that God’s protection is always there. God is with you. Now that does not mean, and Peter will not promise the false promise of saying, that means God’s not going to let you suffer. That means if you’re a good Christian, you’ll never get cancer. If you serve God faithfully, your finances will take care of themselves. If you’re a good child of God, your family will be the perfect family, and they’ll never disappoint you and let you down. That’s not the hope that he gives. That’s not the protection that’s offered. Because, see, those things don’t last. Chapter 1 again, verses 4 and 5 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away. That’s the protection.

That’s the hope reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept. Pay attention to the pronouns in verse 5. He does not say that your reward is kept in heaven. Who is not what? He’s not saying that you have a home in heaven that is protected, you have a mansion, you have a street of gold. He’s saying you are kept. That word kept is not strong enough. In the original language, it means a military garrison. Think of Fort Knox. God is protecting you. Not from the suffering, but through the suffering. Chapter 3. Verse 13, and who is he who will harm you? Who is he who will harm you if you’re followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.

And do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled. It brings to mind the words of Jesus fear not him who can destroy the body, but fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. We spend so much time in saying the Holy Spirit does not act in the way he did in the first century directly upon our hearts. We spend so much time in saying miracles don’t happen today the way they happen then. That maybe we’ve taken God out of our lives completely. God is still living and active. He is still protecting you in some miraculous way? No. Some direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon your heart? No. But in his providential love, his hand is upon you. And if you’ll be faithful, yes, you may have to suffer.

His own son had to suffer. But he will keep you.

Conclusion

God’s help is there. And he wants you to turn to him, pray to him, and feel his presence in your life in your darkest moments. Suffering is real, it’s universal. But it doesn’t have to destroy our faith. In fact, it can enhance our faith and bring us closer to God and closer to home. What about you this morning? Are you a child of God? Have you rendered obedience to the gospel? Why not today? Realizing that suffering is going to be a part of your life, why not go through that suffering with God in your life? Why not go through it with hope instead of hopelessness? Would you believe in him, repent of your sins, confess that faith, and to be baptized this morning for the remission of your sins?

Maybe you’ve done that. But something, maybe even suffering, has shaken your faith and taken your eyes off the goal. Then why not rededicate yourself this morning? Why not come back? Confess your sins and live in hope. If we can help you this morning in any spiritual ways, you come to Christ and answer the gospel call. Why not do so right now as together we stand and as we sing?