Do Not Be Surprised By Suffering

No one watches boxing anymore.

But back in the day, I grew up watching Iron Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and so many other fighters get it on in the ring—none of this rigged Jake Paul stuff. Boxing is exciting because you never know what is going to happen. All it takes is one move, and the fight is over in the blink of an eye.

Boxing keeps you on the edge of your seat because anything can happen, no matter what you think should happen.

Life is Like a Boxing Match

Likewise, we often expect things to go one way in our lives but then are surprised by the actual turn of events.

We expect to have a great vacation weekend, but then you get a call that a beloved family has died and you have to attend a funeral. You were planning on a much-needed promotion only to come into work and find out that your role had been eliminated due to financial cutbacks in the company. Like many of you, I have started my day with plans and expectations, only to end up in the hospital with an unexpected health emergency. 

None of these are exciting events, and all of them are unexpected. In these moments, what internal dialogue is going on inside your mind? 

A) This is fantastic! 

B) Life is so unfair! 

C) This is a natural part of life 

C) All of the above. 

For many believers, pain, drama, struggle, or suffering always comes as a surprise. We are always shocked that hardships come our way. But rather than leaving us hanging trying to figure all this out on our own, the Apostle Peter wants to give us clear instructions about suffering in our lives. 

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. - 1 Peter 4:12-19

1) Don’t be Sucker Punched by Suffering (12-18)

The Context for the Text 

The letter of 1 Peter is addressed to Christians living in Pontus, Cappadocia, Galatia, Asia, and Bithynia, an area of about 129,000 square miles, an area almost as big as California.

The Apostle Peter refers to persecutions that were sporadic, personal, and unorganized social exclusion of Christians with varying severity. Peter describes suffering and the persecution felt by these believers worldwide, suggesting a type of persecution that potentially threatens all Christians because they are Christians and not the policy of one government or another.

 Peter is writing to the church to let them know that we are born again to a living hope, built up in Christ, called to be holy, a chosen race, and all that…but that, woven into the fabric of your Christian life, is suffering.

 But like Meek Mills said, there are levels to this!

 First, most of us are so blind to our American culture and lifestyle that we are numb to the word of God. Throughout the scriptures, from Genesis 3 to Revelation, the reality is that things get rough and life will be hard.

 Even with endless passages throughout the Bible, we are still shocked when something goes wrong or is difficult in our lives. Part of that is our Western, American cultural stuff. 

 We don’t know about the World War and rations, the Great Depression, or standing in lines for food. Even during recent “recessions,” most of us stood in line waiting for the new J’s to drop. 

I think the great trick we’ve been plagued by is comfort. 

If we don’t like the food, we get more. If we don’t like the delivery, we turn it off. If we don’t like the man or woman, we ghost em. If we don’t like the comment, we block it. We push it aside quickly at any place and point where we can face discomfort. And if we suffer from any difficulty in life or experience pain, we think we are cursed.

So now, when you see “fiery trial, insult, sufferings” you breeze by it without considering it. Or you immediately think that suffering is wrong and evil, and you’ve gotta escape ASAP. Rightfully so, there was no suffering, pain, or hardship before there was sin. It was at the fall that pain entered into the world.

But now, as Christians, suffering and difficulties take on a new paradigm.

Verse 12 describes a unique kind of suffering. Peter is saying that from time to time, God will intentionally put you under pressure or throw you into the fire. 

“Fiery trial” described here is testing that comes upon you by the hand of God. In other words, God will put you in highly pressurized situations to draw out Christlikeness in you. This is sanctification!

God puts you in the fire to draw out your impurities. As the impurities are sifted out, you begin to look more and more like Christ!

Verse 13, “Peter says rejoice in your sufferings insofar as you share Christ sufferings” We praise God because now we get a taste of what Jesus endured which whets your palette even more for Christ to come again.

There are certain things church kids suffer through unlike other kids. I grew up scared to death thinking I had missed the rapture. I hated those sermons that talked about the end times and Revelation! I hated it because there was stuff I still wanted to do…get my driver's license, graduate high school, get married (wink wink) 

But now that I’m older, I have children of my own, and I’ve dealt with a few things. I can’t wait for the glory of the Lord to be revealed.

Let me talk about Jesus for a moment. 

The reason Jesus came to earth, healed the sick and forgave sins is that he wanted us to be able to see the glorious, eternal beauty and majesty of God! The reason Christ was beaten, whipped, torn apart, and despised is so that you and I could be accepted, loved, and basked in the glory of God eternally. Without suffering, there is no celebration.

50 Cent said, “Sunny days wouldn’t be special if it wasn’t for rain; Joy wouldn’t feel so good if it wasn’t for pain.”

So, we get a taste of the bitterness of suffering, a taste of the sadness Jesus felt, and a little dab of brokenness so that we salivate for Christ's glorious return.

Bootleg Suffering: Self-Inflicted Suffering

But don’t get it twisted. There is bootleg suffering! Some of us are in a mess of our own making and blaming it on God! (vs. 15)

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler.”

If you go out and get into something, you’re not suffering for Christ! If you’re in jail for selling a key of coke to an undercover cop, that’s not suffering for Jesus. While we laugh at that idea, look at that last word…meddler. 

Some of us are known for going out and starting trouble and then being quick to holler about persecution. Peter is clear: meddlers aren’t suffering for Christ. Stay out of people's timelines, starting stuff. Stay out of the comment section, just waiting for the right one to cross you. That’s bootleg suffering.

But Yo! If you’re being faithful to the Lord, you don’t have to look for hate. Hate will find you. If you start loving your co-workers, don’t worry. If you’re praying for patience, wisdom, to grow in the Lord. Just wait. He’ll put some weight on the bar of your life.

That’s why it’s important that we Don’t get sucker punched by suffering!

Verse 16, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

This is the reality: The Christian walk is hard. It is no cakewalk!

To struggle in our Christian walk is not shameful but commendable. This is the journey that we walk. Have no shame!

Paul says in Acts 14:21-22, When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

While it may seem like we are born to lose, in reality, we are built to win. 

2) We are “Built” to win (19)

What are you supposed to do when you find yourself in difficult circumstances? 

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Our response to suffering is to “entrust” (make a deposit, commit oneself, hand over) their souls to a faithful Creator.

Our instincts: You try to pull back and figure things out when you suffer. You begin to look around at your circumstances and begin to consider your pain. We say, “OH NO! God, you don’t know what you’re doing?” So, we try to remove ourselves from difficult circumstances. Not realizing that that’s when you should surrender.

We think hardship is not the will of God when, in fact, it may be God’s perfect will for you. What is God’s will for your life, for you to be conformed to the image of Jesus, so he will do what he must to see that happen. 

You see how fragile you are! But God knows what he has built in you. 

Since I was a child, I have experienced several hurricanes: Hurricane Hugo when I was six years old, Hurricane Andrew when I was 9, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Charley, and so on.

Watching footage of a hurricane at work is amazing. Nothing can stand in its way. But in our city, full of palm trees, you see them almost lying down on the ground, beat down by the wind and water. But after the storm, the tree stands back up. Not only do the palm trees stand back up, they are taller and stronger.

Psalm 92:12 – The righteous flourish like the palm tree

We entrust ourselves to the one who built us…you don’t know what you can handle but the heavenly manufacturer knows how to make you more like Christ.

You were built to win…not because you have swag and internal greatness but because he has deposited his spirit in you. 

In verse 14, ‘If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed. Why? Because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. He’s referencing,

Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Peter is telling us, the same Spirit of God that was prophesied to rest upon the Messiah also rests upon the believer who willingly suffers for Jesus Christ.

The same Spirit that empowered and sustained the beaten, broken and resurrected Jesus is the same one that empowers and sustains you.

When we look at Jesus's life, he seems like a born loser! His Family was on the run, born in poverty, folk whispered about his Mother, and his own family thought he was crazy. Then he goes to the cross, and it looks like it’s over! He seemed like a born loser, but the whole time, he was built to win!

Some of you feel you are going through difficult circumstances that are too hard for you to handle. You're right! But Christ has never failed. Some of you bear scars from your struggle with sin. 

Entrust yourself to the Creator.

We commit ourselves to the process because we know we are in good hands. God is faithful with an impeccable record of all wins and no losses. You were built to endure because Christ endured. You were built to overcome because Christ overcame. You were built to win because Christ reigns!  

Reflection Question:  How do we push past the hardship?

Some of you have been evangelizing,

Some of you have been praying for friends and loved ones,

Some of you are worried 

But check this out: Even when the game is rigged against us, we still win!  

Continue to do good…

Continue to live as Christians…

Continue to minister to one another in Christian community…

Do not let persecution and suffering deflect you from your calling in Christ. 

This is a part of our calling.

Suffering is not a sucker punch but an opportunity to grow to become more like Jesus.