1 Peter 1:6-7 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7in order that the genuineness of our faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes though tested through fire, may be found in praise and glory and honor in the revelation of Jesus Christ.
One of the central themes of 1 Peter is reflected in this verse: enduring through suffering. Suffering is not a topic we like to think about and surely not go through. Suffering brings pain of different types: physical, social, psychological, and even spiritual. We try to avoid pain for good reasons and often complain about it. Pain brings many forms of grief, including envy of those who seem to have things going well. Grief also can show up in doubting God’s care, love, or even existence. Peter turns the natural, human response to suffering around and challenges his readers to rejoice through their suffering. The only way to do this is by tapping into the strength provided by God through faith.
Faith is what sustains us through suffering. Peter notes that our earthly suffering is for a little while. The grief experienced in is not permanent. It will come to an end with the return of Jesus or our own death, when we will receive our eternal inheritance. We are often short-sighted, however. We only think about what we are experiencing in the moment of suffering. We only know what we experience in our senses, and when these are in pain, it can affect our thinking and perceptions of God, ourselves, and those around us. The Bible challenges us to see that there is more to our existence that our momentary feelings. Feelings are important, but they are often conditioned upon our physical situation. Faith sends us deeper into the realm of spiritual matters. From this resource, we can have help dealing with our suffering.
Why does God allow us to suffer? Is our suffering part of God’s plan, will, or purpose for us? The purpose clause at the beginning of verse 7 suggests that God may allow trials to come our way so that we can grow stronger in our faith and trust in him. Inevitably, as believers, we will face suffering of different types. Our suffering may be different from someone else’s, in type and degree, yet it will come. Peter’s readers may have been experiencing outright persecution because of their faith in Jesus. At times, God intervenes in the affairs of this world to stop someone from experiencing suffering. At other times, God allows the suffering to take place. In all of this, God has our good in mind (Romans 8:28).
When God allows suffering, it is intended to help our faith growth stronger. However, we must respond to our suffering with faith. If we let doubt creep into our thoughts, the suffering may not have the positive outcome of strengthening us but may end up harming us or even destroying us.
Significantly, Peter describes this tested faith as greater worth than gold. We might think that gold is permanent. As a long-lasting metal, it does not rust or tarnish much over time. Gold becomes purer as it is laboriously refined in fire and the dross is removed. Our faith is worth more than even the purest of gold that has been refined and purified. This type of faith will last forever (1 Corinthians 13:13). This life is the time for purifying our eternal faith. Sometimes, it may feel like our faith is broken to pieces by the pain, suffering, fear, and doubts. When we look to Jesus, these pieces can be put together even stronger. When he comes again, we may be surprised how the puzzle of our lives actually fit together. But we can be assured that the picture will be beautiful because it will be full of praise, glory, and honor. We may not physically see Jesus now, but his presence is apparent through our suffering.