“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
I have to be honest, I am genuinely surprised by fiery trials. Perhaps it is a product of having lived a very blessed life, but things going wrong really throw me off. I have always seen faith and hope as a kind of spiritual optimism, and I carry this into every situation. If I were Paul or Peter, I would definitely be scratching my head wondering how prison or torture could possibly be part of God’s plan. Things seemingly going awry feels strange to me.
Peter offers an alternative here, which we covered when we studied the book of James: be glad. Not just plain old glad. Very glad. Trials make us partners with Jesus in his suffering. That may not sound too appealing until we keep reading: we also get to share in his glory. If we aren’t part of the building of the kingdom of God, we won’t be there to enjoy the fruits of that labor. We have a chance at something eternally valuable, and keeping this perspective brings gladness to our hearts.
Here’s your freedom for today: living for Jesus won’t disappoint. Perhaps you are struggling with disappointment right now. Maybe you are going through the fire in a way you never have before. Perseverance happens when our eyes stay fixed on the long game. When we grow in this perseverance, we mature and can make it through even when the fire gets turned up to full blast. Lots of people don’t make it. Spiritual war unfortunately involves casualties. Stay in the fight and stay connected to those who are able to fight alongside you. Victory is coming, no matter what.