1 Peter 4:12-19: a reflection

12Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. 13But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. 16But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. 17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God? 18“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?” 19Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

Peter tells suffering Christians not to be surprised by the fiery trials they face, as though something strange were happening, but to see in them a share in Christ's own sufferings, and to entrust their souls to their faithful Creator. Don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, Peter writes, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice. And he adds: let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator. Suffering for Christ is not a strange thing that should surprise us, but a sharing in his sufferings; and in it we are to entrust our souls to God, who is faithful. This shows not being surprised by trials, sharing Christ's sufferings, and entrusting our souls to a faithful Creator. Do not be surprised by fiery trials, as though something strange were happening. Suffering for Christ is a sharing in his sufferings. Entrust your soul to your faithful Creator in your trials. Trials are not strange; meet them by trusting the God who is faithful.

Notice how Peter reframes the fiery trials these Christians faced. First, he tells them not to be surprised, as though something strange and unexpected were happening to them. Trials and suffering are not strange to the Christian life; they are to be expected, not met with astonishment as though something had gone wrong. Second, he gives them a way to see their suffering: as a sharing in Christ's own sufferings, so that they can even rejoice, knowing they will share in his glory. And third, he tells them what to do in their suffering: to entrust their souls to God, their faithful Creator, committing themselves into his keeping. This gives us a way to meet our own trials. When suffering and hard trials come, we need not be surprised, as though something strange were happening; trials are part of the road. We can see our suffering, when it comes for Christ's sake, as a sharing in his sufferings, which will end in sharing his glory. And above all, we can do what Peter counsels: entrust our souls to God, our faithful Creator, committing ourselves into the keeping of the one who is faithful and will not fail us. We do well, in our trials, not to be surprised, but to see them as a sharing in Christ's sufferings and to entrust our souls to our faithful Creator. Do not be surprised by trials; entrust your soul to your faithful Creator. Suffering for Christ is a sharing in his sufferings, ending in his glory. Commit yourself into the keeping of the God who is faithful. Meet your trials by trusting the faithful Creator, not by astonishment.

That is worth taking to heart, for we need not be surprised by trials, but can see them as a sharing in Christ's sufferings and entrust our souls to our faithful Creator, as Peter counsels suffering Christians. We can be astonished by trials, as though something strange were happening; but Peter tells us not to be surprised, but to share Christ's sufferings and entrust our souls to God. Trust the faithful Creator. When fiery trials come, do not be surprised as though something strange were happening; see them as a sharing in Christ's sufferings, and entrust your soul to your faithful Creator. Do not be surprised by the fiery trials you face, as though something strange were happening, but see them as a sharing in Christ's sufferings and entrust your soul to your faithful Creator, as Peter told suffering Christians not to be astonished at the fiery trial that had come to test them, as though a strange thing happened, but because they were partakers of Christ's sufferings to rejoice, and to entrust their souls to God as to a faithful Creator; for suffering for Christ is not a strange thing that should surprise us but a sharing in his sufferings, and in it we are to entrust our souls to God who is faithful, so that Peter reframes the fiery trials these Christians faced, telling them first not to be surprised as though something strange were happening, since trials are not strange to the Christian life but to be expected, second giving them a way to see their suffering as a sharing in Christ's own sufferings so that they can even rejoice knowing they will share his glory, and third telling them to entrust their souls to God their faithful Creator, committing themselves into his keeping, which gives us a way to meet our own trials, since when suffering comes we need not be surprised, can see our suffering for Christ's sake as a sharing in his sufferings that will end in sharing his glory, and above all can entrust our souls to God our faithful Creator who will not fail us, so that we do well in our trials not to be surprised but to see them as a sharing in Christ's sufferings and entrust our souls to our faithful Creator.

Lord, Peter tells suffering Christians not to be surprised by the fiery trials they face, as though something strange were happening, but to see in them a share in Christ's own sufferings, and to entrust their souls to their faithful Creator. Don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, Peter writes, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice. And he adds: let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator. Suffering for Christ is not a strange thing that should surprise me, but a sharing in his sufferings; and in it I am to entrust my soul to you, who are faithful. Show me how Peter reframes the fiery trials these Christians faced. First, he tells them not to be surprised, as though something strange and unexpected were happening. Trials and suffering are not strange to the Christian life; they are to be expected, not met with astonishment as though something had gone wrong. Second, he gives them a way to see their suffering: as a sharing in Christ's own sufferings, so that they can even rejoice, knowing they will share in his glory. And third, he tells them what to do in their suffering: to entrust their souls to you, their faithful Creator. This gives me a way to meet my own trials. When suffering and hard trials come, I need not be surprised, as though something strange were happening; trials are part of the road. I can see my suffering, when it comes for Christ's sake, as a sharing in his sufferings, which will end in sharing his glory. And above all, I can do what Peter counsels: entrust my soul to you, my faithful Creator, committing myself into the keeping of the one who is faithful and will not fail me. Take that to my heart. When fiery trials come, keep me from being surprised as though something strange were happening; help me see them as a sharing in Christ's sufferings, Lord, and entrust my soul to you, my faithful Creator, committing myself into the keeping of the God who is faithful and will not fail me.