Encouragement

Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:12-13). Now that’s a little disturbing, isn’t it?

In our lives as believers, we have certain wonderful promises. We have all the heavenly blessings (Eph 1:3). We have the forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7). We have eternal life (John 5:24). So many great promises. But there is another that most of us aren’t really happy about. It’s that “fiery ordeal” Peter wrote about. Jesus said, “You will be hated by all because of My name” (Luke 21:17). Paul said, “To you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Php 1:29). So don’t be surprised.

Here’s the thing. This promise is not nearly as bad as it sounds. In fact, Paul spoke of “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” and quoted Psalm 44 about how we are “being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” (Rom 8:35-36). He concluded, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom 8:37). Not “in spite of” or “after we have endured” or “as long as we bear it.” The word was “in.” In the midst of the pain we are promised, we are more than conquerors.

I remember The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book, a list of promises we are given—heartwarming, encouraging, true stuff. For some reason, “tribulations and trials” aren’t included. Don’t let that throw you. We are promised trials, but always for our best (Rom 8:28-29) and always under His care and control. We are promised to be “more than conquerors” in them and benefit from them (Rom 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). Those are some good promises to remember so you won’t need to be surprised and you won’t have to be discouraged.