Suffering as a Christian: Why it Matters
Most of us don’t like the word suffering. We avoid it, pray against it, and often assume something has gone wrong when hardship comes. But Peter writes to believers facing real pressure—misunderstanding, exclusion, even persecution—and he calls them not to be surprised, but to view their suffering through the lens of Christ.
For Christians, hardship isn’t a sign of spiritual failure. It’s part of the path Jesus walked, and as His followers, we shouldn’t be surprised that we might walk the same path. Our suffering may not look exactly like His, but it means Jesus understands what we face. If we suffer because we follow Christ—not because of wrongdoing—Peter reminds us that we have no reason to be ashamed. Our perseverance becomes a testimony that Christ is worth following, even when it costs us.
Peter writes a powerful encouragement in verse 19: “Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator”. Suffering is not something to fear or avoid at all costs, but something we can endure with confidence because God is faithful. Just as Jesus cried out in His own intense suffering, there may be moments when we feel forgotten or abandoned by God. Yet in reality, suffering holds the promise of God’s deep and purifying presence. In God’s hands, suffering is never wasted. It becomes a place where Christ meets His people, strengthens them, and is glorified through them.
As a church, this gives us a profound calling: to support one another as we endure this kind of suffering—trusting together in the faithful Creator who holds our lives. When we walk through trials, we are reminded of the gift of the faithful community God has placed around us. The church becomes a living expression of God’s care: a family that listens, prays, encourages, and walks step by step with those who hurt.
Suffering may be unavoidable, but in Christ it is never meaningless. And in the hands of a faithful Creator, it becomes a doorway to deeper hope, deeper faith, and deeper fellowship—both with God and with one another.
Ashleigh
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