Fiery Trials are Temporary (1 Peter 4:12–13)

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.
– 1 Peter 4:12–13

Wow, what a couple of verses that are encouraging—even though, when you think about it, it’s not encouraging in one sense, because it’s basically saying you’re going to experience fiery trials in this world that test your faith. That’s not strange when that happens, that’s normal. That’s the whole point of verse 12.

1 Peter 4:12–13 pictures believers as beloved even in their suffering.

Don’t be surprised when you’re following Jesus, and things get harder for you in this world. Jesus actually promised this would be the case. 1 Peter 4:12 is following up on that promise.

So sometimes we think, “God, I’m following you. I’m trusting you. Why is this happening to me?” And 1 Peter 4:12 says you should have expected this. You’re following a Savior who suffered in this world. Your life is identified with a Savior whom this world crucified. So don’t be surprised.

But that’s what I love about the very beginning of verse 12. The first word is “beloved.” Beloved—like those loved by God. This is such a good reminder that when we face trials, it’s not evidence of God’s lack of love for us. “God, don’t you love me? Why is this happening?” Yes, he loves you so much. You are beloved by God. He loves you so much as his child.

So when you face trials, remember you are beloved. Remember he loves you. And then verse 13 goes on to say, rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings. That doesn’t mean the trials are easy. That doesn’t mean we put on a fake smile like, “Oh, this is awesome that I’m walking through this challenge, that I’m grieving in this way, that I’m hurting in this way.”

1 Peter 4:12–13 explains the temporary nature of every trial.

That’s the language from earlier in 1 Peter 1: it is right to be grieved when we face various trials. But even in our grief, we can rejoice. Why? Because we know, one, we’re sharing in Christ’s sufferings—we’re growing in our relationship with Jesus through these trials. And two, we know these trials are temporary: that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. And his glory will be our glory.

So you can know—rejoice, be so encouraged today—that when you face trials, they are temporary in this world. And they may last for years, decades even, but they won’t last forever. They have an end point.

So rejoice in this—not just in what’s going to come in the future, but rejoice in the fact that Jesus is with you in the trial, that he’s drawing you closer to himself, molding you more into his image. And if likeness to Jesus, closeness to Jesus, is the goal of your life, then you can rejoice in trials because you know God will use those trials to lead you closer, draw you closer to him as his beloved child.

This verse reminds us that glory is coming after present sorrow.

So, God, we pray that as we face trials, we would not be surprised, shocked, but that we would trust that you love us and trust that you are working in our trials, just as you promise, for our good—for the good of all those who love and trust in you. So we rejoice in this.

Oh God, even as I think about trials in my own life… I can’t imagine all the trials that you know in each person’s life who’s listening to this. God, we pray for supernatural joy, given by your Spirit—that which does not come naturally. We pray for supernatural joy in drawing closer to you in our trials, and we praise you for their temporary nature. God, we trust that as dark as it seems, we know light is coming.

We praise you that as despairing as we feel, we know there is a purpose—and not just a purpose in general, but a good purpose you have. Oh God, we trust in you. And we look forward to the day when trials will be no more. When your glory will be revealed and we will enjoy and exalt you in all your glory, free from all trials forever.

Oh God, help us to share this good news with others around us, particularly those who are walking through trials. God, help us to encourage brothers and sisters in Christ today who are walking through trials. Help us to be a picture of your love for them.

And God, we pray for people who don’t know you, who don’t know the hope and love that is found in you—the joy that is found that supersedes suffering in this world. God, we pray you’d help us to share that with people around us today who don’t know you, and with people around the world.

A Prayer for the Bantar People

God, we pray for the Bantar people of India—for 196,000 of these mainly speaking Hindu men, women, and children. God, please, please, please: we pray that the good news of your love would spread to the Bantar people, that they might experience your salvation from sin and, ultimately, your salvation from suffering and death when your glory is revealed.

We pray all this according to your Word in 1 Peter 4:12–13, as your beloved. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Amen.