Enduring Suffering: Trusting God's Sovereign Plan
Summary
In 1 Peter 4:19, we find a profound call to action for those enduring suffering: "Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." This verse serves as a lens through which we can explore the entire chapter, offering guidance and comfort to those experiencing hardship. Suffering, as Peter explains, is not an anomaly but a part of the Christian journey. It is a refining process, stripping away dependencies and idols, leaving us to rely solely on God. This suffering is not outside of God's will; rather, it is a part of His sovereign plan, intended to draw us closer to Him.
Peter encourages us not to be surprised by trials, reminding us that Christ Himself suffered and that His followers are not exempt from such experiences. The early Christians faced persecution, economic hardship, and alienation, yet Peter urged them to rejoice in sharing Christ's sufferings. He warns against suffering due to sinful actions, emphasizing that true suffering for Christ is a blessing.
While enduring suffering, Peter instructs us to continue doing good. This includes being self-controlled, sober-minded, loving earnestly, showing hospitality without grumbling, and serving others with the gifts God has given us. These actions help us focus outwardly, preventing us from becoming consumed by our trials.
The key to enduring suffering lies in entrusting our souls to a faithful Creator. This act of trust acknowledges God's sovereignty and His rightful claim over our lives. It is a reminder of His power as the Creator and His faithfulness to His children. Peter, who experienced God's faithfulness firsthand, assures us that God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.
In times of suffering, we are called to taste and see that the Lord is good, to take refuge in Him, and to trust in His deliverance. This is how we persevere through a hard life, by placing our lives in God's hands and relying on His strength and faithfulness.
Key Takeaways:
- Suffering is a part of God's sovereign plan, intended to refine us and draw us closer to Him. It is not an indication of His absence but a reminder of His presence and purpose in our lives. [08:20]
- While enduring suffering, we are called to continue doing good, focusing on self-control, love, hospitality, and service. These actions help us maintain an outward focus and prevent us from becoming consumed by our trials. [10:32]
- Entrusting our souls to a faithful Creator is the key to enduring suffering. This act of trust acknowledges God's sovereignty and His rightful claim over our lives, reminding us of His power and faithfulness. [18:02]
- God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. In times of suffering, we are called to taste and see that the Lord is good, to take refuge in Him, and to trust in His deliverance. [33:33]
- Perseverance through a hard life is achieved by placing our lives in God's hands, relying on His strength and faithfulness. This is how we endure and find comfort in the midst of trials. [39:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:41] - Opening Prayer
- [01:42] - Introduction to Suffering
- [02:44] - Understanding Fiery Trials
- [04:22] - Historical Context of Suffering
- [06:01] - Christ's Example of Suffering
- [07:36] - God's Sovereignty in Suffering
- [09:25] - Purpose of Suffering
- [10:32] - Doing Good Amidst Suffering
- [11:56] - Community and Hospitality
- [14:04] - The Danger of Inward Focus
- [16:27] - Serving Others with Gifts
- [18:02] - Entrusting Our Souls to God
- [21:33] - Peter's Transformation
- [24:49] - Creator's Power and Ownership
- [28:31] - Psalm 34 and God's Faithfulness
- [33:33] - God's Nearness to the Brokenhearted
- [37:57] - Perseverance Through Life
- [39:10] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 4:19
- 1 Peter 4:12-18
- Psalm 34:8-22
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Observation Questions:
1. What does 1 Peter 4:19 instruct those who suffer according to God's will to do? How does this verse serve as a lens for understanding the entire chapter? [00:41]
2. In 1 Peter 4:12-18, what are the different types of suffering mentioned, and how does Peter differentiate between suffering for Christ and suffering due to sinful actions? [03:37]
3. According to the sermon, what are the five actions Peter encourages believers to continue doing while enduring suffering? [10:32]
4. How does Psalm 34:8-22 describe God's relationship with those who are suffering? What promises are given to the righteous in this passage? [33:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of suffering as part of God's sovereign plan challenge or comfort believers, according to the sermon? [08:20]
2. What might be the significance of Peter instructing believers to "entrust their souls to a faithful Creator" during times of suffering? How does this reflect on God's character? [18:02]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that doing good during suffering can prevent believers from becoming inward-focused? [14:04]
4. How does the sermon use the example of Peter's transformation to illustrate the faithfulness of God? What can believers learn from Peter's journey? [21:33]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced suffering. How did you respond, and in what ways could you have entrusted your soul to God more fully? [19:54]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of doing good while suffering. What specific actions can you take this week to serve others, even if you are going through a difficult time? [10:32]
3. Consider the idols or dependencies in your life that suffering might strip away. How can you begin to rely more solely on God in these areas? [09:25]
4. How can you practice hospitality and love earnestly, as Peter instructs, even when you feel exhausted or overwhelmed? What practical steps can you take to show hospitality without grumbling? [11:56]
5. Psalm 34:8 invites us to "taste and see that the LORD is good." How can you actively seek to experience God's goodness in your current circumstances? [30:34]
6. Think of someone in your life who is experiencing a hard life. How can you support them in entrusting their soul to a faithful Creator? [28:31]
7. Reflect on the idea that God is near to the brokenhearted. How can this truth change the way you approach your own suffering or the suffering of others? [33:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Suffering as a Divine Refinement
Suffering is not an anomaly in the Christian life; it is a part of God's sovereign plan to refine and draw believers closer to Him. This process strips away dependencies and idols, leaving individuals to rely solely on God. Peter reminds us that suffering is not outside of God's will but is intended to deepen our relationship with Him. By understanding suffering as a divine refinement, we can find comfort in knowing that God is present and purposeful in our trials. [08:20]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is using suffering to refine you? How can you embrace this process and draw closer to Him today?
Day 2: Doing Good Amidst Trials
While enduring suffering, believers are called to continue doing good, focusing on self-control, love, hospitality, and service. These actions help maintain an outward focus, preventing individuals from becoming consumed by their trials. By serving others and using the gifts God has given, believers can find purpose and strength even in the midst of hardship. This outward focus is a testament to the transformative power of faith in action. [10:32]
Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Reflection: Identify one specific way you can serve someone in your community today, even if you are facing your own challenges. How can this act of service help shift your focus outward?
Day 3: Trusting in a Faithful Creator
Entrusting our souls to a faithful Creator is the key to enduring suffering. This act of trust acknowledges God's sovereignty and His rightful claim over our lives, reminding us of His power and faithfulness. By placing our lives in God's hands, we affirm His control and care, finding peace in His promises. This trust is not passive but an active reliance on God's strength and faithfulness. [18:02]
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully? What steps can you take today to actively place this area in His hands?
Day 4: God's Nearness to the Brokenhearted
God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. In times of suffering, believers are called to taste and see that the Lord is good, to take refuge in Him, and to trust in His deliverance. This nearness provides comfort and assurance that God is present and active in the lives of those who are hurting. By seeking refuge in God, believers can experience His goodness and faithfulness firsthand. [33:33]
Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence during a difficult period. How can you seek His nearness and comfort in your current struggles?
Day 5: Perseverance Through Divine Strength
Perseverance through a hard life is achieved by placing our lives in God's hands, relying on His strength and faithfulness. This is how believers endure and find comfort in the midst of trials. By trusting in God's power and promises, individuals can navigate life's challenges with hope and resilience. This perseverance is a testament to the sustaining power of faith in a faithful God. [39:10]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can rely on God's strength to persevere through a current challenge? How can this reliance transform your perspective on the situation?
Quotes
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though some strange thing 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. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." [00:02:54]
"We see this fiery trial; we see it throughout this epistle. We see it in the first-century church that these Christians who suffered physical persecution under the hands of Nero, under a godless Rome, under a Rome that was the antithesis of a biblical Christianity. Many of these Christians suffered economic hardship." [00:04:22]
"Peter is saying, 'Don’t be surprised at this.' He is also reminding them, 'Don’t suffer because of your sinfulness or because of your idiocy by committing some crime, and so you suffer. That’s not suffering, a godly suffering that Peter is talking about.'" [00:06:43]
"And here Peter, as it were, forces the question by not answering it, but by reminding us of the fact of God’s sovereignty. And so, it’s not intended to raise a question; it’s intended to be a comfort that this is not happening, this suffering is not happening outside of God’s will." [00:07:55]
"That we realize in God’s plan that suffering and hardship and difficulty are part of His plan for our lives to strip away those things that we depend on, or perhaps, even strip away those things that can become an idol in our lives. So that at the end of the day, we are left to depend upon and to trust and to rely fully upon Him." [00:09:08]
"He also tells us what to do while we suffer. That while we are suffering, we are to be doing good. So, I’m going to skip ahead here, and skip the middle phrase, and skip to the end, the last phrase, 'While doing good.' What does he mean by that? Well, go up to verses 7 to 11, and you’ll see he lists, by my count, five things that we should be doing." [00:10:24]
"This loving one another, it would be all right if Peter said, 'Love one another,' but does he have to say 'earnestly?' And why in chapter 1, does he say, 'sincerely?' Now, it’s even harder to love one another from a pure heart. Is this doing good not taking our eyes off of ourselves?" [00:12:46]
"And I was never around a more joyful person than that man. This is why Peter says, 'Therefore if you suffer according to God’s will, do good.' Don’t be so inward focused, because it’s going to lead down an unhealthy path, but to remember to show hospitality." [00:16:01]
"And then, the fifth thing. So, we’ve got be self-controlled, be sober-minded, love one another, show hospitality, and then, the fifth thing, 'serve.' As each has received a gift, use it to serve. These are the spiritual gifts. This is not a formal list like we find in Paul to the Corinthians." [00:17:07]
"Now, let’s take a look at each one of those. First, this word 'entrust.' It’s translated some places as 'commit.' The idea is to, to put this literally, it means 'to put beside you.' Now, this is what we do with our phones. Peter did not anticipate that we would have ... this is what we do with our phones." [00:18:19]
"We are not just entrusting our souls to anyone; we are entrusting our souls to the Creator, and this is not just the Creator. Maybe the keyword to all of this is 'faithful.' And here is the beauty of this word. Could we pause here for a moment? Could you go back to the very first verse of the very first chapter, and could you look at the six words that begin this book?" [00:20:59]
"Look at verse 8, 'Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.' Even in suffering, yes. Even in times of hardship, yes. Even being in precarious positions where that next step just is not clear and riddled with anxiety, 'What do I do?' 'Taste and see that the LORD is good.' 'Entrust your soul to a faithful Creator.'" [00:31:03]
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