Trials & the Will of God

1 Peter was written on the eve of an intense period of trials for Christians. Knowing the future, the Holy Spirit wanted to use Peter’s pen to prepare Christians, many of whom had likely already experienced persecution. 1 Peter 1:1 describes the epistle’s audience as members of the diaspora (“dispersion” in NKJV), a term previously used in Jewish history to describe Jews who had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern world by the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires (cf. John 7:35 – “Dispersion” in NKJV). Since a large segment of the audience of 1 Peter seems to be Gentile (1 Peter 4:3-4), it is reasonable to assume that Peter is not referring to a Jewish diaspora, but a Christian one. Christians had already been persecuted, a word which literally describes one put to flight, for over two decades by the time they get Peter’s epistle (cf. Acts 8:1-4; a verb form of diaspora is found in v. 4). It clearly says something about the “fiery” nature of these impending trials that the Holy Spirit felt such a letter was necessary (1 Peter 4:12)

Each chapter in 1 Peter focuses to some degree on the subject of trials. Chapter 1 reminds its readers that they can rejoice in spite of trials (1 Peter 1:6) because of their heavenly home (1 Peter 1:3–5) and the salvation that lies at the end of their faith (1 Peter 1:9). Chapter 2 commends those who “do good and suffer,” following the “example” of Jesus Christ in so doing (1 Peter 2:1 Peter 2:20-21). Chapter 3 therefore encourages its audience to “suffer for righteousness’ sake… for doing good” (1 Peter 3:14, 17). Chapter 4 leaves no doubt as to what lies ahead for its audience: “fiery trials” that would “begin at the house of God,” through which the “righteous” would be “scarcely saved,” forcing Christians to “commit their souls” to God (1 Peter 4:12, 16–18). Chapter 5 provides a note of solidarity as Peter’s audience is reminded, “the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:9).

Though trials seem to be the focus of 1 Peter, it is interesting to note when Peter references “the will of God.” For many people, those two things – trials and the will of God – are very hard to reconcile. If God is all-powerful, all-loving, all-just, and all-good, then why are there trials at all? Early in the letter, when Peter speaks of trials, he says, “if need be” (1 Peter 1:6). However, the Holy Spirit uses “the will of God” to gently guide Peter’s audience to the fact that not only are trials indeed needed; they are in fact “the will of God.”

“The will of God” is found four times in the epistle.^[1] The first mention is the kind of thing that you would expect; it is God’s will “that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15). Likewise, the third mention encourages readers to live “for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2). The second mention though opens the door to connecting the “will of God” and trials: “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). The fourth leaves no room for doubt: “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).

The connection between “the will of God” and trials is challenging. Commenting on the broader question of why evil, pain, suffering, and death exist, one of my teachers once said, “If you have an easy answer to this question, you don’t understand it.” One of the many points of reflection needed though to begin to answer this question can be found in 1 Peter. It’s important to note something that Peter connects over and over again to the concept of the will of God and trials. In chapter 1, it is “the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (1 Peter 1:11). In chapter 2, it is the fact that “Christ also suffered for us” (1 Peter 2:21). In chapter 3, “Christ also suffered once for sins” (1 Peter 3:18). In chapter 4, “Christ suffered for us in the flesh,” and Christians “partake of Christ’s sufferings” (1 Peter 4:1, 13). And, in chapter 5, Peter claims to be “a witness of the sufferings of Christ” (5:1). Notice a theme?

Christians already know that though the suffering of Jesus wasn’t what God desired (Jesus even passionately prayed against it!), it was overseen by and therefore a part of the will of God. Further, Christians also know that God used the suffering and death of Jesus to work a triumphant victory over both sin and death (Colossians 2:13-15). I think it’s logical to assume that Peter and the Holy Spirit meant for us to connect these thoughts to our own experiences in suffering, particularly when we suffer as Christians for doing good. While we may never know on this side of eternity why we had to endure a particular moment of suffering, we can know that no moment of suffering escapes God’s notice and that, as Paul said, the entirety of what God allows through His sovereign will “work[s] together for good” (Romans 8:28).  

-Patrick Swayne  
patrick@tftw.org