1 Peter: For His Glory, by His GraceSample

If a storm gathers in the distance, you may hear thunder as it approaches, and if it’s severe, the NationalWeather Service initiates a warning. When we hear the alarm, we all sit up and take notice. The warning system is designed to disrupt our regular routine and move us toward a response that may save our lives.

Similarly, as Peter instructs us to remember what Christ did on the cross and to respond in a Christ-like manner, he is alerting us that suffering lies ahead.

Suffering is part of the Christian life. Peter is both warning us and giving us a reminder that the power of God’s grace can help us endure. How you respond in a storm can be the difference between life and death, not only for yourself but also for those around you. Similarly, how you respond to suffering can be life-changing.

The best posture you can take in suffering is one rooted in hope. By keeping your focus and trust squarely on God, you can think of your suffering in a different light, knowing He is building godly endurance in you.

That reality, though, isn’t meant to diminish the weight of pain that suffering brings with it. It’s okay to feel hurt and broken in the face of suffering. But God is working within you in your pain. Every moment you persist and keep going, it’s God’s grace and His glory giving you the ability to endure. And that is a gift.

1. What does persecution look like today for Christians around the world—and for you?
2. What are a few ways you can respond with love to those who have drawn unfair conclusions about you or others who put their hope in Christ?
3. Do you feel ready to explain the hope you have in Christ? What might that look like in a relationship with someone who is searching for hope?