“Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will, entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good.”
– 1 Peter 4:19
What a verse. Let those who suffer according to God’s will. Let that soak in, that God’s will for our lives includes suffering. There’s mystery here, for sure. But we see this all throughout the Bible from Joseph to Job to Jesus that God sovereignly oversees suffering in those whom he loves, those who are trusting in him and following him. There’s suffering.
That’s why earlier in 1 Peter, 4:12, it said, “Beloved, don’t be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you.” Like what? What book are we reading as Christians, if we think that suffering is abnormal or unexpected? The Bible makes clear suffering is a normal expected part of the Christian life.
1 Peter 4:19 Leads Us to Entrust Our Souls
“Let those who suffer according to God’s will, entrust their souls.” Oh, what a phrase. Entrust your soul. You can trust the very depth of who you are to who? To a faithful creator, to the God who made you and forms you and loves you and has pursued you from before time began. Who cares for you, who promises to provide for you with everything you need. Who is with you, who will never leave you alone. A faithful creator.
“Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good.” When you’re walking through suffering, as you entrust your souls to God, do good, do good, do good. Do what you know to do. When you don’t know what else to do, do what you know God’s word calls you to do. Love toward him and love toward others and love even toward your enemies.
A Reminder of God’s Love for Us
God, we pray, and love even toward those who are causing suffering in your life. God, we pray that you would help us to do this. Help us to see you ultimately as sovereign over even our suffering, over especially our suffering. God, it brings no comfort to us to think that in our suffering, you are not able to do this or that. That you are able to do all things according to your holy will.
So we entrust our souls to you, to you who are so faithful to us, and we pray that you’d help us to do good. We pray that you’d help us to avoid evil as we suffer and to do good. God keep us from sin in our suffering. Help us to walk in holiness, as First Peter one called us to be holy as you are holy.
1 Peter 4:19 Prays for the Afghan and Southern Uzbek Church
Oh God, as we are praying all these things for our lives and praying for the church in Afghanistan during this month in particular. We pray for the spread of the gospel. God, we pray. God, amidst suffering there, we pray for the spread of the good news of your grace and love as the faithful creator.
We pray today specifically for the Southern Uzbek people. 4.3 million of them, 0.01% Christian. God, cause your salvation to be known among the Southern Uzbek people, as they walk through suffering.
This Verse Leads Us to Spread the Gospel Among Southern Uzbek
We cannot imagine walking through suffering without knowing Jesus, the one who suffered on our behalf, who died on our behalf, who rose from the grave, who is seated in heaven, who promises to draw all who trust in him to eternal life with him. Not based on what we do, but based on your mercy and your grace.
God, we pray for that good news to spread amidst the Southern Uzbek people, millions of them, and amidst suffering they are experiencing. May they know the good news of the faithful creator who has come to save them from their sins. God, we pray all of this according to 1 Peter 4:19 in Jesus’s name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
