Suffering in Trials and Weakness

Good morning. It is a privilege to share God’s word with you this morning.

I want to invite you to turn with me to 1 Peter 3.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jason Purdy.

I’ve had the privilege of being the pastor of Christ Covenant Church, a fellow Eastern North Carolina Pillar Church, in Rocky Mount for the past five years.

I am married and have four children.

I met my wife in college at Liberty University.

We have been married for 18 years, and we have four children: Elijah is 16, Mackenzie is 14, Addison is 12, and Isaiah is 10.

The theme for this morning is Suffering: Learning to trust and glorify Christ in seasons of trials and weakness.

I was a senior in High School when God put it in my mind and heart to commit myself to gospel ministry full time.

While most of my friends were going to UNC or NC State, I went to Liberty University to study the Bible.

And going to Liberty really opened up the world of ministry to me because I was not raised in a ministry family, so I wasn’t quite sure what going in ministry meant.

I just knew that I loved Jesus, I wanted to learn the Bible, and I wanted to share Him with others.

Well, Liberty puts a huge emphasis on international missions, and I started dating my now wife, who already had some experience with international missions,

So, when we graduated from Liberty and got married, we moved to Southeastern Seminary because of its focus on international missions.

We had our first two children while I was studying at Southeastern, and we finally had been through enough schooling to go to the mission field.

So here I was, a young man with a wife and two kids, I had been studying for seven years at this point to go to the mission field.

We were finally ready to go, and two months before we were supposed to report to Richmond for a final training, I have my first panic attack.

By the time the Richmond training is over, I’m struggling with anxiety so badly I’m losing sleep and checking all the exit doors everywhere we go.

Two months later, I’ve fallen into a deep depression and I desire to end my life.

Six months into our first term on the mission field, my mission organization told me that I am to bad off to stay in India, that’s where we went.

That I needed to take a forced medical resignation and return home.

My wife and I were devastated.

I found myself on a plane heading back to America with my now pregnant wife and two kids with no job, emotionally hurt and exhausted, and having no idea what we were going to do next.

What do you do as a follower of Jesus when you come up against trials, suffering, and weakness?

Where do trials, suffering, and weakness fit into the plan of God for our lives?

In 1 Peter, these churches in the dispersion of the Greco-Roman world faced a lot of challenges and grieved a lot of losses for becoming followers of Jesus in a time of much persecution against Christians.

Because of their situation, Peter writes the letter of 1 Peter to help prepare them to live and respond in a godly way to trials, suffering, and persecution.

He has already written of their gospel hope, and how the gospel had made them a distinct people.

He then speaks to how the Christians are to submit themselves to human institutions, and how wives are to submit themselves to their own husbands in their marriages, and now where our passage begins today, Peter is writing about how we are to submit ourselves to God in the midst of trials and sufferings.

Follow along with me as I read:

1 Peter 3:8–12 ESV

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1. Pursue Christlike Character In the Midst Of Trials and Suffering

It is very natural for us to respond to evil with evil.

If someone criticizes me, the fleshly impulse is to criticize them.

If someone yells, I yell louder.

If someone hurts me, I hurt them.

It is the most natural thing in the world to fight against any perceived opposition to self.

But the supernatural response empowered by the Spirit of God is to repay evil with blessing.

You cannot defeat evil with evil. You can only defeat evil with good.

But it takes what verse 8 says: unity of mind meaning you are able to see beyond yourself and remember that believers are suffering trials throughout the world, so you are not unique.

It takes a tender heart toward God to believe that all things He allows in your life is ultimately for your good and His glory, so you can receive even trials and sufferings without fighting against them.

It takes a humble mind to say, I don’t deserve a trouble free life.

Do you want to love life and see good days? Then bless and do good even in the face of evil, trial, and suffering.

Seek peace and pursue it.

I find such freedom in this passage because what it is reminding us is that trials, sufferings, and evil coming against us cannot dictate our thoughts, words, and actions.

What dictates our thoughts, words, and actions is our heart posture toward God.

It tell my kids all the time that their siblings cannot make them angry, or make them yell, or make them call their sibling an ugly name.

They can sin against you, but it is out of the heart the mouth speaks, so it is the posture of your heart that determines your response not their words or actions.

I could have fought against the mission board and their decision to send us home, but by God’s grace alone, I submitted, and we went home, and God knew that was best.

1 Peter 3:13–17 ESV

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

2. Be Willing To Suffer For Righteousness’ Sake

It’s a great reminder to us that suffering is going to be a part of our lives in this fallen world whether we are living in a godly way or living in an evil way.

We do not live for God in order to avoid suffering and pain.

We live for God because His great love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and He is worthy of our lives.

Now, not all trials and suffering comes specifically because you follow Jesus, but some does.

I have had two different times in my life when I was in atmospheres when I was ridiculed harshly for following Jesus.

One was in sixth grade.

There was a guy I had to sit by at lunch who thought it was the greatest thing to make fun of me for everything.

And for the first few days, all the kids laughed with him, but I never said a word back. I stayed completely silent.

But, about the fourth day, I noticed that all the other kids weren’t laughing anymore, they were actually ridiculing the guy who continued to make all these jokes about me.

My silence has won them over.

The other time was when I worked delivering furniture during seminary.

It was a rough group of guys in the warehouse, and man they called me every name in the book for refusing to curse, complain, or talk about women.

I never said a word in response.

Finally, one day, one of the foulest mouthed jokesters stood up in the midst of all the guys and said, “Man, we are always talking and Jason never talks, Jason why don’t you tell us something about how you come to work everyday with a smile and you never complain.

It was one of the most open doors to share the gospel that I ever had.

Let me encourage you to be Christlike in your workplace.

It is so tempting to want to blend in and be like everyone else, but it is better to suffer ridicule and be left out in order to have a good conscience and be a witness for Jesus.

It is better to suffer for doing good than doing evil.

1 Peter 3:18–22 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

3. Trust In Christ’s Suffering and Victory In the Midst Of Trials and Suffering

The first two points were all about how we are to respond to trials and suffering as Christians,

But the most wonderful thing about our faith is not the character and virtues we are called to cultivate.

The most wonderful thing about our faith is that Jesus Christ is the only one perfect in character and virtue, and His gospel work has provided us not only the example, but has provided us the very gift of his righteous life, character, and virtues onto our record that we could never have lived up to on our own.

I don’t want you to think for one second that I have always exuded Christlike character and virtues in the midst of trials and suffering. Far from it.

I have had more losses than I have had wins.

But, you don’t have to trust in your wins, and you don’t have to despair in your losses, instead, you can trust fully in the perfect victory Christ has won for you.

Now, commentators will tell you that verses 18-22 are some of the toughest verses in the whole Bible to interpret.

And while that is true in the details, may we not let that keep us from marveling at the big point of these verses.

The big point is that Jesus, the righteous one, suffered and died for us, the unrighteous, and then Jesus rose again to gift us the cleansing of his righteousness, so even though we suffer in this life, we have the full assurance of hope for our eternal salvation.

Christ’s suffering and death in the flesh did not crush His spirit, but He was raised in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Your trials and sufferings cannot destroy your spirit because nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.

Noah was a persecuted minority in his day just like the believers Peter is writing to are a persecuted minority.

Noah proclaimed to the people of his day the way to be saved from the flood to come, but the people did not listen.

But, Noah and his seven family members did listen, and they got on the ark in faith, and God brought them safely through the judgment of the flood waters.

In the same way, our baptism is a picture of the fact that we identify with Jesus’ suffering, we will walk through our own trials and sufferings and flood waters, but we will be brought safely through as well.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we have the hope of eternal resurrection apart as well.

As a young man in a Bible college that was so passionate about international missions, then going straight to a seminary that was so passionate about international missions,

They never said it this way, but what I heard was: if you are a serious Christian, you go to the international mission field, and if you can’t hack it, well, maybe you’ll become a pastor in the states.

Well, I wanted to be a serious Christian.

I wanted to do great things for God.

Where God guides, God provides right?

That’s not a Bible verse by the way.

God knew what I needed most as I suffered in the weakness of anxiety and depression unable to fulfill my job as a missionary.

I needed this truth driven down deep into my bones: God cares more about you than what you can do.

The gospel message is not “go and do for God!”

The gospel message is “gaze upon what God has done for you!”

Jesus suffered. Jesus died. Jesus rose again. Jesus proclaimed the victory.

And even if I was laid up in a hospital bed unable to do anything for the rest of my life, there is nothing that can take away what Jesus has done for me, and nothing that can separate me from the love of Christ.

I don’t have to be a missionary.

I don’t have to be a pastor.

I don’t have to be a husband.

I don’t have to be a father.

I don’t have to take my next breath.

But by God’s grace, and what He has done for me in Christ, he gives me the freedom to be those things and do those things at this moment.

And I get to the walk in the freedom of not having to do those things perfectly, and not have to prove myself, and not having to be anybody’s savior, but simply point to what our Savior has done!

Sufferings, trials, and weaknesses slow you down, they remind you of your limits, they may even make you fail at something.

But, God can teach you and free you to trust in Him and His work more fully than you ever had before.

1 Peter 4:1–6 ESV

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

4. Think The Way Christ Thinks About Suffering

Arm yourself with the same way of thinking about suffering doesn’t mean that you think of yourself as a victim or that you are just waiting for the next bad thing to happen.

That’s not the way Christ thought.

Instead, arming ourselves with this way of thinking means that we do not have to be surprised by suffering.

I can’t tell you how many times I have added to my grief by asking the questions: how did this happen? and Why is this happening?

As if I expected never to suffer or face trials.

Peter makes the point that we all physically die, which is certainly a form of suffering, but for those who are in Christ, our physical death brings with it the promise that our spirit will continue to live with God.

I could have had so much more peace much quicker in the process if I would have armed myself with this way of thinking: suffering and trials are a normal part of the Christian life.

Another thing “arm yourself with the same way of thinking” means that we understand that saying no to sin and to the passions of our flesh is a form of suffering.

It’s why we sometimes choose to fast or deny our sinful flesh in some other way in order to be trained in the suffering of the flesh to the good of our spirit and our worship to God.

When it is tempting to look around you and be jealous of those who seem to have an easier life than you do, consider that we will all give an account before God in the end for the way we lived and responded to his grace.

1 Peter 4:7–11 ESV

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

5. Persevere In Trials and Suffering Knowing The End Is Near

One of the greatest tools of perseverance in the the midst of trials and suffering is holding onto the hope that all of your trials and sufferings have an expiration date.

The end of all things is at hand.

Think about it this way: you are going to live an eternity of joy in the presence of Jesus with no hurt, pain, or fear, so hold on.

This illustration is not original to me: but imagine you know for certain that you have $1 billion dollars waiting for you at the bank.

All you have to do is drive down to the bank and sign on a paper, and the $1 billion will go straight into your bank account.

Now, imagine that three blocks away from the bank, your car breaks down.

What do you do?

Do you kick and scream and yell out to God, “Why do bad things always happen to me?”

No, you don’t do that.

You simply get out of the car and joyfully walk the last three blocks knowing that in just a few moments, you will be able to buy the greatest car money can buy!

In a much more profound way, knowing that all your suffering and trials have an end date means that when you go through trials and suffering, you don’t have to complain about it, and act like the world is ending, and rail against God.

Instead, you understand that this life is difficult, sometimes surprisingly so, but soon, you will be in the presence of your Creator and Redeemer for eternity with no more tears, fears, or pain!

You know, trials and suffering tempt us to focus inward on ourselves, but Peter encourages us to keep praying, keep loving one another earnestly, keep showing hospitality, keep using your gifts to serve God’s glory and mission in and through his church.

When things are tough in your own life, one of the best things you can do is look outside yourself, and love and serve others.

1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV

12 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. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

6. Trust That God Is Doing Something Good In The Midst Of Your Trials and Suffering

There’s a biblical theologian named Jim Hamilton who has written a biblical theology entitled, “God’s glory in salvation through judgment.”

And in that book, he makes a convincing argument that the center of all biblical theology, the center of what all the Bible is displaying is: God’s glory in salvation through judgment.

When we read here that it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, Peter is not saying that God will ultimately judge true believers as guilty.

Instead, what he is saying is: the trials and sufferings of this life are the worst judgment that believers in Christ will ever have to face.

Yet, Noah and his seven family members were saved from the flood, but they still had to go through the judgment of being stuck on the ark.

The judgment we experience as believers is not for our condemnation, but it is for our faith to be refined and made beautiful.

That exactly what Peter writes in:

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 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.

The judgment that begins at the household of God purifies God’s church and prepares God’s church to result all the more in praise and glory and honor when Jesus returns!

I want us to wrap up this time considering what it means to entrust our souls to a faithful Creator while doing good who suffer according to God’s will.

Lamentations 3:25–30 ESV

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; 29 let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope; 30 let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.

Have you ever been in the midst of suffering that demanded silence?

You stopped asking questions.

You stopped trying to figure it out.

You stopped trying to fix it.

You’ve got nothing left.

So, all that is left is silent surrender.

I always found hope from verse 27: it is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

That means it is good to learn to surrender to God in the midst of trials and suffering when you are young, and learn its lessons.

Let it humble you, refine you, grow you in compassion toward the weak and the needy, let it teach you have to fear God and not man.

Let it teach you that it is only when God is all that you have that you will learn that He is all that you need.

AW Tozer has this wonderful quote:

“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”

I think we oftentimes minimize the profound effect our sinful depravity has on us, and what trials and sufferings are needed in order to rightly humble and refine us to the point of being joy filled in God alone, and by His grace alone, useful for His kingdom.

I certainly had to learn that it is not about me doing something big for God.

It is about God doing something big in me, so that I would give my life to him, and see my life as a gift that I don’t deserve, and be free to take joy in him alone.

And so much more.

Let’s pray.

Discussion Questions:

What are the trials and sufferings you are currently facing? Or what trials and sufferings of your past have you not fully dealt with?

How does Christ’s suffering, death, and victory give us a model and motivation for enduring suffering ourselves?

How should the reality of Christ’s return and God’s coming judgment affect the way we live right now?

What are some key characteristics God calls us to show amid trials and suffering?

What would it look like in your situation to “entrust [our] souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (4:19)?