12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

David Mazel on Ed talked to his rabbi when he was asked how things were going, He answered, "Things are going all right, but it wouldn't hurt if they went a little better."

The rabbi said, "And how to you know it wouldn't hurt?"       

A gardener said of his chrysanthemums, “We concentrate all the strength of the plant in one bloom. If we would allow it to bear all the flowers it could, none would be worth showing. If you want a prize specimen you must be content with a single chrysanthemum instead of many.”

So too, God prunes from us certain habits and practices, which in themselves may not be wrong, so that He may perfect in us the qualities He desires for the purposes He desires and in that we are honored and blessed.     

When bad things happen to good people, it is normal to ask “Why?”. It is confusing, knowing that a sovereign God is in charge not only of the universe, but our lives. How does His power and wisdom fit in with something that hurts?     

In this passage there is pain mentioned. It is part of suffering. Sometimes that pain is physical. The story of Job or even the experience of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 speaks of physical pain that comes as a messenger of Satan, but allowed by God. It seems as if it is His permissive will is used to ultimately accomplish His perfect will. Good things come out of it, but it is normal to do everything one can, to get out from under it when it comes to sickness or pain.

Physical pain included the beatings and the jailings of Christians under persecution. It might have involved  hunger and thirst or being denied other basic needs of life. It might be sleeplessness and soreness, when called or forced into uncomfortable environments. Missionaries who experience heat, cold, and lack of physical comforts experience pain that is part of the will of God to spread the message. Doing what God calls us to do is not always comfortable.

Suffering can include emotional or psychological pain when people are insulted and harassed by others. This is a common suffering around the world when prejudice and hatred abounds toward Christians in non-Christian environments.

Many find the costs of persecution too high for them.

Abuses come to Christians as well as non-Christians in our fallen world when there are robberies, rapes, and bankruptcies. Let’s remind ourselves that we live in a cursed world. Until we see Satan defeated, the pain of suffering is a fact. It is naïve to think all Christians can escape that. It is understandable to question God when we are hurting.

In this passage Peter points us to look beyond the present. God is still on His throne. The Lord produces vibrant, fruitful saints by allowing painful experiences of sorrow and trials to touch their lives. Believers who have experienced testing confirm, through it they have developed character and stamina, not the shelter of peace and rest.

Application:  ponder this:  Through the difficult experiences we seek God harder. In our seeking we find Him in ways that we might not have guessed. We learn most in our sufferings. That is what Peter discovered and wants to pass this on to others.

Prayer:  Lord, as you drive me closer during suffering and trials, Lord, I see your hand, I hear your voice through your holy word. In those times and others, I praise You!