Author: C.A. Phillips

There are quite a few head-scratchers in Scripture: questions about why certain events unfolded as they did, and why God allowed certain things to happen the way they were recorded. As I read and examine many of these incidents, I’m left with this question: why does God allow His people to suffer…for doing good?

We don’t have the time to delve into every aspect of this age-old mystery. However, we see countless examples in the Bible of people doing the right thing yet suffering as though they had committed a terrible crime. Why?

1 Peter 3:17, taken on its own, is challenging to understand. We need some context here to begin to grasp what Peter is trying to convey in this passage:

• Peter is writing to new Christians—primarily Gentiles (non-Jews) who are being persecuted. They are being treated harshly, verbally abused, and discriminated against. Some have endured torture and death.
• Peter urges them to keep their focus on the glory that awaits in eternity and to remember how Christ suffered on their behalf.
• Peter, an Apostle, had seen, spoken with, and been restored by the risen Christ. He witnessed Christ’s suffering but also saw that Jesus rose to new life!
• Peter wants readers to understand that we are blessed to share in the suffering of Christ. When we experience pain, mistreatment, agony, hardship, and torment, we identify with Him and gain greater intimacy with Him.

Here are a couple of Scripture passages that might help us reconcile 1 Peter 3:17:

“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” – Romans 8:17-18 (NLT)

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

The essence of Christianity is faith in who Jesus Christ is and trusting in Him as Lord and Savior. We must hold fast to the hope of the resurrection because this is why Jesus suffered in the first place—to redeem us with His body and blood so that we could share in the resurrection with Him!

Sin and suffering are intertwined and have been since humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden. The best way to handle suffering—especially suffering for doing good—is to lean on the Lord, look forward to the eternal prize that awaits, and live righteously, so that those who see you suffering will notice there’s something different about you.

Nothing is wasted when we live for Christ.

I’ve got two words for you: Road Rage.

If you’ve been behind the wheel of a car, you’ve seen it and almost certainly felt it. Traffic is infuriating, but inconsiderate, self-absorbed drivers take things to a new level. We all have our stories to share, but a friend of mine recently told one that left me in stunned silence.

He was simply driving to the grocery store, making his way through the parking lot. He spotted a vehicle backing out of a parking space ahead and turned on his blinker. He waited for the driver to pull out and even backed up his car to give the driver extra room. Just as he was about to turn into the vacant space, a young man came out of nowhere, cut him off, and pulled into the space ahead of him. My friend honked, but this fine young gentleman accompanied his selfish act with some hand gestures.

As my friend told me this story, my blood began to boil. I started thinking about what I would have said or how I would have responded, and none of them are found in the Sermon on the Mount.

But my friend remained calm and simply kept driving through the parking lot until he found another space—a couple of aisles over from where he had planned to park. He then proceeded to go into the grocery store, grabbed a few items, checked out, and walked back to his car. As he made his way through the lot, he spotted the guy who had cut him off. The young man was standing in front of his car with the hood propped open. My friend walked over and asked, “Is there any way I can help?”

By this point, my jaw had dropped, and I was feeling severely convicted—and I was just listening to the story!

The young man immediately realized who was offering to help him. He felt about an inch tall at that point, but my friend persisted. “Do you know what’s wrong?”

“My battery is dead,” the guy sheepishly replied. “My car won’t start.”

“Well, I’ve got some jumper cables in my car,” my buddy said. “I’m happy to grab them and see if I can help get your car started.”

Before the guy could decline the offer, my friend moved his car, retrieved the cables, connected them to the battery terminals in both vehicles, and successfully jump-started the guy’s battery. The young man was grateful but clearly ashamed of himself.

“If I had been you, I don’t think I would have helped,” he said.

“Well, that’s OK,” my friend replied. “Next time, you will.”

I will never forget this story. I still wonder: if my friend hadn’t offered to help, how would that decision have affected this young man’s life?

In His message known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offered these words to the thousands who had gathered to listen:

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45, NLT)

This is not easy to do on a good day, much less when we have been wronged. But we have Good News to share with a lost world. If we respond as the world would respond, we surrender our influence and squander an opportunity to put the goodness of God on display.

If you’ve been to a major sporting event or concert, you’ve encountered them. They are often holding large posters, wearing sandwich board signs, and almost always projecting their message through the famed bullhorn. They’re the so-called “hellfire and brimstone” evangelists.

Admittedly, I get upset each time I encounter them. Wrong message, wrong tactics. Am I disputing that sinners should repent and give their lives to the Lord? No! But instead of yelling that people are going to hell and centering their narrative around fear, perhaps they could examine the Scriptures and see how Jesus spoke to crowds.

These folks focus on shame. Jesus focused on forgiveness.
They speak with contempt. Jesus spoke with love.
They cast judgment. Jesus offered redemption.
They make assertions and blanket statements. Jesus asked questions.
They push people away. Jesus invited people in.

Whether or not you carry a bullhorn, you still share a message with everyone you encounter about who Jesus is to you—through your work ethic, how you speak to others, how you serve others, whether you are kind and considerate, how you drive in traffic, and even how far you’re willing to go to win a game. Whether you realize it or not, you are constantly communicating something to the people in your sphere of influence! What do you want to tell them about who Jesus is through your words and behavior?

Peter tells us we need to live our lives in such a way that people notice a difference (for the good) and may ask us about the joy and hope they see in our lives. When this door opens, we need to be ready (and eager) to share who Christ is and what He has done!

Are you living in such a way that someone would ask you that question? If not, you’ve got some self-examination and reflection ahead of you. If so, spend time thinking and praying about how you’ll respond when that day comes. People who aren’t believers don’t think and act like believers, so heed Peter’s words: be gentle and respectful. The only time they might see Jesus is through you!

When I read Peter’s letters, this thought occasionally occurs to me: “He makes it sound so easy!”

The phrase “fear not” appears more than 70 times in Scripture, with the words “fear” or “afraid” appearing more than 200 times. This apparently was—and continues to be—a topic that bears repeating for all of us. We need constant reminders that our enemy is at work to discourage us, but that we have no true reason to fear when we are living in fellowship with the Lord.

In Peter’s first letter, he implores early Christians under persecution to continue to fight the good fight, do good amid suffering, and remember Christ in everything. But even when we persevere and put on our game face, worry can creep in—especially when your life is being threatened for your faith!

In America, we rarely, if ever, face the type of persecution these early believers suffered. But we still face threats—very real ones. And it’s so easy to focus on the “what ifs” and prematurely fill in the blanks on a story God hasn’t finished yet, instead of fixing our gaze on Jesus—the One who holds us in His hands.

The Apostle Paul wrote several letters to early churches to remind them who they were in Christ. In Philippians, he encouraged believers to combat worry through prayer:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

While it makes perfect sense to PRAY instead of WORRYING, it’s tough to let go of worry altogether. Perhaps that’s why Peter offers us another antidote to worry and fear: he tells us to WORSHIP Christ instead of focusing on the threats against us. When Christ becomes the object of our affection and attention, worry, doubt, anxiety, and fear begin to fade away. By baring our soul to the Lord through worship, we lay our problems at His feet and surrender control to Him. This breaks the chains of discouragement and gives us freedom from the emotional prison we’ve been locked in!

Have you ever read the story of Joseph in Genesis? If not, perhaps you’ve seen the Broadway musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. If you’re not familiar with this epic story, it’s worth your time to read Genesis 37-50.

In a nutshell, Joseph was the favored son of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel after Jacob wrestled with Him all night and didn’t relent). Joseph had 11 brothers, 10 of whom were older than him—and nine of those brothers made the decision to sell Joseph to foreigners as a slave. They then told Jacob that Joseph had been mauled by a wild animal.

Meanwhile, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of the Egyptian guard. Joseph served Potiphar well and honored the Lord in how he handled his responsibilities. As a result, Potiphar’s household thrived—that is, until Potiphar’s wife began to lust after Joseph. He refused her numerous advances, and she became so offended that she accused him of raping her. Potiphar threw Joseph in prison, where he remained for years.

Yet the Lord was with Joseph in prison. He was a model inmate, and because of God’s favor, the prison warden came to fully trust Joseph and ultimately put him in charge of all the prisoners. There, Joseph met two men who were also imprisoned: one was Pharaoh’s cupbearer, and the other was the chief baker. Both had dreams and needed help understanding their meanings. Joseph interpreted their dreams and asked them to remember him when they were released. They didn’t—at least, not for two years, until Pharaoh himself began having dreams that no one could interpret.

To make a long story short, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, became second in command over all of Egypt, saved the country (and perhaps the world) from a seven-year famine, and increased Egypt’s wealth. Among those he saved were his brothers—the very ones who had sold him into slavery 13 years earlier! The brothers didn’t recognize Joseph when they came to buy grain, but he remembered them. Eventually, Joseph revealed his identity to them, and they were terrified for their lives. They schemed and manipulated some details for self-preservation, but Joseph responded with kindness and grace:

“Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:19-20, NLT)

What’s the lesson? Keep doing good. Keep honoring the Lord, no matter what harm others may try to do to you, and regardless of your circumstances. In the end, trust that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

God meant it for good with Joseph, and it’s the same for you and me when we honor Him with our words and actions.

As I read the scripture above, I sit in silence, wrestling with this exchange. The Twelve have been with Jesus for a couple of years. They’ve witnessed more miracles than can be recorded; they’ve had a front-row seat in a Master Class in Ministry 101 from the greatest Instructor ever to walk the earth. A few even saw Jesus in His purest form as He was transfigured before them on the mountain. And yet, it seems true faith eludes them.

So, I ask myself, “If the guys who spent three years with Jesus are imploring Him to increase their faith, what hope is there for me?”

At the same time, another thought occurs to me: if these guys were that close to Jesus and “didn’t get it,” there may be hope for me yet!

All believers struggle with faith. ALL of us. And I truly believe that we all want to increase our faith! We want to believe – just like Abraham did! So, the question is this: How Can I Increase My Faith?

There’s no easy answer, but here is some food for thought:

• It Begins with the Gospel
  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (ESV)
  We first gain faith through hearing the Good News about Jesus, and that message is most clearly found in the Word of God.

• Faith (Belief) Alone is Incomplete – It Must Involve Action
  “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14-17 (ESV)

• Adversity is a Blessing – Our Faith Must Be Tested
  “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NLT)

• Faith’s Greatest Partner is Prayer
  “Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
  “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
  First, prayer is critical because Jesus modeled it. He often withdrew to pray and got up very early in the morning to spend time alone with the Father. We can only grow in our relationship with the Lord by spending time with Him.

• Faith Grows in Community with Others
  “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
  We are not designed to live in isolation. Your faith grows when you dig into God’s word with other believers. Remember, as Rick Warren opens The Purpose-Driven Life: It’s not about you! Your faith can build others up, and vice versa.

We have explored much of Abraham’s life these past several weeks, and we can agree that his absolute confidence in the Lord’s sovereignty is what separated him as the man whose faith God credited as righteousness. He very well could have been the inspiration for Journey’s hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Abraham’s faith – great as it was – could have ended when he perished at the ripe old age of 175. However, it lived on (and on and on and on… a la Steve Perry). How so? Because he lived – and believed – in such a way that it profoundly influenced his son, Isaac. He passed his faith baton, and Isaac continued to run with it in hand.

Isaac had seen God come through plenty on his own, no doubt. After all, he was at least a teenager when God spared him from death by his father’s hand on the mountain, providing the ram for the sacrifice. He also received God’s blessing through his father’s efforts in securing a bride for him – Rebekah, who was not only beautiful but would bear him two sons of his own after being barren for the first 20 years of their marriage.

Incredibly – by God’s providence – Abraham’s legacy lives on even today. Obviously, Abraham could not have seen thousands of years into the future. But, as we discussed earlier this week, he had absolute confidence in the covenant God had made with him – that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. And it’s the same promise God gave Isaac – because “Abraham listened… and obeyed.”

Let’s personalize this for a moment. If you are a parent, how are you doing in this area? Are you living your life with purpose and intentionality in a way that is attractive to your kids? Ask yourself two questions: (1) If I was to leave this earth today, what would my legacy be? (2) What legacy do I hope to leave?

If there’s a gap between those two responses, you have some work ahead of you. The good news is that you still have time while you are breathing to change the course of history.

As Stephen Covey shared in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, begin with the end in mind. It’s often by looking ahead to our preferred future – or our kids’ futures – that we glean wisdom and live our best life.