A Lasting Hope
Text: 1 Peter 4:19 ESV
I want to take you back to me in middle school for a moment. I was in drama class, and of course, our big assignment was the play at the end of the year. The teacher asked for everyone to submit what parts they wanted to be—specifically how much they wanted to memorize. For some reason I said, “I want a long part with a lot of memorization.” It wasn't about wanting to be on stage a lot. It was just that I really wanted to try to memorize a huge part.
I thought in my head, okay all these actors in these sitcoms memorize these huge parts every week. I mean Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, they did this every week. I should be able to memorize a large part in a semester.
The teacher honored my request, and gave me a large part. I was not able to memorize it. Not even close. So we had to come up with a solution. I remembered the solution. I was a waiter or butler, so I carried around a tray everywhere with my little book, and I had to read it.
I mentioned that story because, when we started this mini-series on 1 Peter, I said, and I quote, “I think we will try to tackle First Peter in six sermons.” Well, this is the sixth sermon. We've made it through chapter two. I misestimated just a little bit. But who’s counting?
I had the whole series broken up when I said that. But as we were going along, I decided to slow down in some sections. But the whole intention was that first Peter would be a short summer study for us.
We had to make a choice. Do we continue to march through First Peter, having gotten through chapter two, or do we honor the original intention, which was to be a summer series, and then transition into fall? Always a tough decision. But we decided to honor the original decision for it to be a summer series and have a fresh start in the fall.
This, then, is going to be (for now) the last sermon in our mini-sermon series in First Peter. My goal is to wrap up the book, to touch on some of the main things we've seen. I will say that I’m actually really grateful we slowed down at points. Yes, there's another three chapters. But we've seen so much in just two chapters. And I'm grateful that we slowed down and dug in deep.
We may come back to First Peter another time, but we're going to wrap it up today, which is why we heard just one verse—1 Peter 4:19.
I chose that verse because a theologian named Wayne Grudem suggested that this verse, perhaps more than any other in the book, summarizes the themes. I agree with him. Here's what it says:
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
Today we are going to take this verse piece by piece and unpack it. I hope it helps weave together many of the themes we have seen. When we began this series, I gave my attempt at a one-sentence summary of the book of First Peter. Here's what I said:
Christian, by remembering the hope of your salvation, stand firm in your suffering.
As we look at this text, and as we recap where we've come, you can test this sentence. Maybe you would change some words, say something differently.
Here's what we're going to do. As we look at this text in particular, we're going to see three little couplets, three pairs, as we go through this. Each pair talks about who God is in the first part. The second part talks about how we should respond. Here they are:
God: He allows the suffering
Us: We don’t respond in surprise but as Christian suffers
God: He is the sovereign Creator
Us: We respond by trusting him
God: He is providing strength amid suffering
Us: We respond by doing good during our suffering.
Before we dig into the first I’ll start with some context for today’s verse. Let’s look at the immediate context by starting at verse 12 and walking through verse 18.
“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.” (1 Peter 4:12 ESV)
Verse 12 reminds us suffering is going to happen. Don't be surprised, believer, but verse 13–14:
“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.” (1 Peter 4:13–14 ESV)
Not only should we not be surprised by suffering, we should remember Christ suffered, and we should expect that we're going to suffer like him. We're going to suffer as Christians in a world that doesn't much appreciate those who follow Christ. He keeps going in verse 15–16:
“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.” (1 Peter 4:15–16 ESV)
When the suffering comes, would it not be that you're suffering like murderers, but like Christians who glorify God and the middle of your suffering. Your suffering is not punishment, but it's a mark of who you are in Christ. Then he finishes in verses 17–18:
“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?”” (1 Peter 4:17–18 ESV)
You have this idea that God uses suffering to purify his people to purify his church to save the righteous. With that context in mind, let's look now at the first pair pairing:
God: He allows the suffering
Us: We don’t respond in surprise but as Christian suffers
Alright, look back at the first part of verse 19:
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
In short, nothing, no suffering happens in your life outside of God allowing it. It passes through God's hands. God sees it. He is not surprised by it. We saw this back in chapter one. God allows suffering. Here’s verse 6:
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,” (1 Peter 1:6 ESV)
The one deciding when it's necessary, when suffering in your life is necessary, is God. Whatever it may be, and here the context is specifically focused on suffering because you are a Christian, but any suffering applies, God is the one sovereign over the suffering. Here’s how Peter puts in it 1 Peter 3:17:
“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17 ESV)
The people who Peter’s writing to are doing good things — like following Christ and loving the Lord. And yet they are suffering for it. Peter wants them to know that God sees their suffering. God knows their suffering. God hears it.
Christian, God sees your suffering. God knows your suffering. God hears you.
Our response is to suffer as Christians, meaning we don't go around thinking, “Oh, hey, we belong to God, and therefore we shouldn't expect to suffer at all.” No. Rather, our instinct should be that we're going to suffer. We should not be surprised when it comes. Here’s 1 Peter 4:12, just so you can see that this is what the Bible is saying:
“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.” (1 Peter 4:12 ESV)
We know that our God is over suffering, and yet suffering is still going to come our way. We suffer “according to God's will,” meaning he's sovereign over it. And we don’t need to be surprised by it.
Our reaction when suffering could come could be to abandon God. “Oh, I thought, if this God is good, he wouldn’t allow suffering.” That's not what the Christian reaction is. Our reaction is almost instead, “Oh, I knew this was coming. I knew suffering would come and God is going to work it for my good.” Listen to how James talks about suffering:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4 ESV)
James is living out the reality Peter is talking about. He just takes for granted that suffering is going to come. So counting joy when it comes.
I remember, as a kid, I was on a soccer team. Here I am, I’d go to soccer practice. You know what every week, and I’d hate it, the coach says, “All right, two laps around the field.” And it was brutal. You run around the field, and you're suffering.
Every practice, I'd go and think maybe he’s not going to make us run around the field. Every time, “Do your laps.” Well, as a kid, I didn't have the perspective that obviously the reason he's doing it is so that in game time, I'd have endurance to keep running.
There is a stark difference between me and these Olympic Athletes. They have coaches, and the coaches are their ally. Even though the coach is the one that says, run around the field, or do such and such that enforces suffering on their body. Why? To strengthen them. They are going to practice assuming, “Yeah, it's going to be challenging.”
I think Christians come into life and you say, “You know what, there's going to be suffering.” You're not me, as a middle school soccer player, thinking, I don't know what — we're going to eat bonbons and kick the soccer ball around. No, you're an Olympic athlete, saying, “I'm going to be tested. I'm going to be tired and pushed so that I might finish the race.”
Here's what picturing as you try to live this out in your life. When suffering comes, you don’t give up because it doesn't compute. The Bible's approach is that we have a God who loves us even when he allows suffering. It's not because he's vindictive or angry. It is because he knows what it's going to take for his children to make it to the end. This suffering is going to strengthen their faith—to purify it. Look back at chapter one, this time let’s look at verses 6–7:
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV)
All suffering hurts. First Peter focuses a lot on suffering as a Christian, like people maligning you because of your faith, treating you poorly because of what you believe hurts. Yet, this applies to all suffering (as I hope you saw in texts like James). Cancer hurts, losing friends hurts, grandparents dying hurts. COVID totally changing life hurts.
God's promise: he's using it to strengthen you. Your suffering is not random. It’s not wasted. It’s not a surprise to God. Let it not be a surprise to you. Your suffering is going somewhere. God is using it for good. He's the good coach that's causing you to run laps, so you can finish the race.
When suffering comes, you just say, “God knows what he's doing. God knows what he's doing.” Now, Peter moves on to the second pair—the second couplet:
God: He is the sovereign Creator
Us: We respond by trusting him
Not only then do we not respond in surprise when suffering comes. According to point one, we anticipate it. Here we see that when suffering comes we respond by leaning on our sovereign God. Look back at verse 19:
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
Notice that word Creator. Peter is not vague in describing the God we trust. He says he is the Creator. The God who rose up mountains from the ground. The one who says to the waves you shall go this far. And no further. The God who created every atom. Who names every star. Numbers every hair on your head. The sovereign God over all things is the one who says to you in your suffering, “Trust me, I'm with you.” Look at 1 Peter 1:5:
“By God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5 ESV)
The book begins by acknowledging God’s power and his presence near his children, and it ends there. Look at 1 Peter 5:10–11:
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10–11 ESV)
Our God is sovereign. Our God is big. Our God has dominion over all things. And so during suffering, where else would you go, but to the God who is sovereign over all things? This is the God who says to you, “I’m with you.”
Everything. He controls everything — all things. And he is inviting you to trust him. Here is the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ESV)
God is faithful. You have hardship, you have suffering, as a Christian you are being maligned and mistreated. He will not let it go beyond what you can handle. You can trust your suffering to him. It feels hard. It feels like you're barely staying above water, but you are. God is keeping you, and he'll continue to provide a way of escape. He'll provide the help. He will be there. God is sovereign, and we respond by trusting in him.
Suffering can make us feel so small. Like the whole world is crashing around us with waves far too big to overcome. But Peter’s word is that God the Creator, the one who stands well above any suffering that assails us, this big God cares for our little souls.
I was trying to picture this as I studied this passage. Something that would help my soul grasp this. This is the best I got. I was thinking of my sons, Landin and Eli. We have a season pass to the pool over here at Ivy Wild. There they have this windy slide. They're not allowed to go down it yet alone because they can't swim. But let's just say they were. I strongly doubt they would go down. It's pretty scary for a kiddo. It's pretty high up there. Pretty big drop, lots of turns. But I go with them. As we go down, I'm holding them. I'm near. This thing that seems so intimidating, so challenging, such a deep dive and so many twirls and confusing and challenging and and and scary— it’s still scary. It really is hard. It really does have a lot of turns and drops. But they trust dad, who's got them.
Regardless, whatever you are suffering, the Bible is trying to say it’s scary. It’s not trying to dumb it down and say your suffering is insignificant and you have got to just get over it. That's not what it's saying. It is saying, “Yes, your suffering is hard. Yes, it's not easy, But God, the sovereign God is with you.” You soul does not need to be shaken because he’s got you. He will keep your soul, even if all you can do is hold onto him and say, “I trust you.”
I think Peter has in his mind suffering as a Christian in a world that doesn't like believers. But the principle from Peter applies to any suffering. This passage doesn’t promise no suffering. But it does promise comfort in your suffering.
I want to take just a minute and talk to those though who have not yet trusted in Christ as their Lord. I heard a pastor say this week that suffering with God is hard, but suffering without God is even harder. If you come into this room, and you are hearing this promise of comfort, but you don’t know this God of comfort, I want to say to you that you can.
Maybe in your life you feel like right now you don't have a lot of suffering, like the soundtrack to your life is nice, beautiful pop songs that are so fluffy and happy. I can tell you right now, if that's you, suffering will happen. It will come. But chances are, you're already well acquainted with suffering. You know it well.
If you look at the promise that says you could have the God who commands the winds to blow where they go, as your comforter, I want you to say, you can. If you would confess your sins to him, and run to his Son who he has sent to take your sins, you could come in and have this great shelter.
If you came in and you did have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but you forgot the comfort that he has, you look at your life and you think I have not been leaning on this sovereign God. I want you to hear this morning, Jesus has bought it all for you. You can lean all in, put all on his shoulders—all the hardship, every heaviness, all burdens, can go to his shoulders. Here's his promise, he'll take your hardship, and in exchange, give you rest:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30 ESV)
That's what it means that our God is sovereign amid suffering. Okay, finally, pair number three or couplet number three.
God: He is providing strength amid suffering
Us: We respond by doing good during our suffering.
Look at the last part of verse 19:
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
The image is that as we're entrusting ourselves to God, he strengthens his children, and his children respond, when they get this strength, by doing good. That's so much of what chapter two unpacked. Take, for example, 2:11–12.
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV)
Here they are, the Gentile are maligning them. God is saying, “keep your life pure.” How? He's going to give you strength, and then you walk in it. He gives specific examples throughout chapter two, even some of them in chapter one. Here’s 1 Peter 3:17 again:
“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17 ESV)
Peter makes it plain (in case we’ve missed it so far) that you can be doing all this good, and still suffer. I think, in our suffering, we can think we're suffering because we're doing something wrong. Now, that can happen. Earlier in chapter four, Peter talks about suffering like a murderer. They go to jail, they're suffering, but they did something wrong.
Peter, though, has a category in his mind that you're doing good things, and you're still suffering. Picture Peter’s audience. As a pastor pointed out, they become Christians, and we imagine they're probably thought, as Christians, their life is going to get better. It did in 100 ways. But one of the ways it didn't get better is they didn't get better treatment from the world around them. In fact, they got worse treatment. People maligned them and said they were rebels. People mistreated them, slandering them because they wouldn’t go to these parties. All this mistreatment while they were doing good. They're suffering.
The tendency, I think, would be to respond by saying, “I’m going to stop doing good. It’s clearly not working. Maybe I’m doing something wrong.”
Picture it like a baker mindset. A baker puts all these ingredients in to make some cookies. Well, they bake them and they don't taste good. All right, simple. I need to start again. I didn't do something right here. I'm suffering over here, eating horrible cookies. The ingredients must be wrong.
But that's not the way he is talking about suffering. It's not like you're just doing all these things wrong and therefore you're suffering. In fact, you may be doing the right things, and you're still getting bitter things in life.
Peter’s word isn't to stop trying. To give up because it doesn’t seem to be working. Quite the opposite. He says don't stop doing good. Keep loving. Keep doing amid this suffering, you're being mistreated. Many of you are being mistreated because you're doing good. Keep going. Keep doing good.
Jesus gave us the perfect example of this. Here's Jesus in Luke 23:46. You have to remember before I read this that his life was perfect. All he did was good. Every amount of suffering he has is unjust. Here is what he did at the peak of the injustice. He is hanging on the cross, and he says this:
“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46 ESV)
He could have just said you know what I'm done. But he kept doing good. And what does it say? He committed his spirit. That word “committed” is the same word as “entrust” in our verse. Jesus entrusted himself to God in that moment, and we're called to entrust ourselves and to continue to do so. I think Peter, in this verse, ends by calling us on a mission—to be missional even in our suffering, even in hardship.
I know that suffering, especially suffering as a believer, is hard. It can be hard to think about others because you are thinking about selfcare. I think the Bible calls us to say, yeah, selfcare really matters. We do that by running to a sovereign God and casting our anxieties on him, and trusting him with those anxieties. And you're going to go out, slightly bruised and broken, but trusting Jesus. You go out and you still do good even while you suffer.
I was in high school. And I wasn't a Christian. I had three friends, in particular, who were Christians. They knew I wasn't a Christian. I didn't care at all about God. Over and over and over, one would invite me to a youth group. I'd just say, No, no, no. He'd call me and say, “Hey, do you want to come to youth group?” And I'm like, “No, my mom won't let me.” If you know my mom at all, you’d know that just wasn’t true. I’m 16. I could drive. They were just excuses, but he kept asking me.
Another friend and I did some pretty rough things to him, but he never stopped loving me. He would patiently bear with me and share the gospel with me.
I had another friend, and he was struggling with depression and was at a spiritual low season. He kept sharing the gospel with me even in the middle of that.
God used these friends, who did not give up in doing good. He used them to awaken in my heart a love for him. I stand before you as someone who is eternally grateful for friends in my life who did not stop doing good during hard moments in life. I mistreated them over and over, I treated them poorly because of who they were. But they kept doing good.
If you're here this morning, and think yeah, this is hard, and you feel like you fall short. I have great news. Christ died so that your sins and shortcomings might be covered. God's grace is there for you. It is there to forgive you and to fuel you to get back up and do good by his grace-powered strength.
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)