1 Peter 1

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. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Pet. 1:6–9)

A glorious future awaits us, but where can hope be found in the trials we experience in the present? 

First, trials endure only “for a little while.” Peter is writing from an eternal perspective here. Some of our trials and troubles might last a lifetime, but in the light of eternity, everything that happens during our earthly life lasts no longer than the blink of an eye in comparison. 

Second, God in his gracious sovereignty determines both the degree and the extent of our difficulties. When we experience painful things—a cancer diagnosis, the death of a loved one, a financial strain, or some injustice—it’s hard to think that God is in control and that he sent those things into our lives. They may even cause us to doubt his goodness. Peter helps us see how a good God allows trials and troubles. And no pain or grief can touch us apart from what he deems “necessary.” How comforting to realize that for every difficulty he allows in our lives, there are countless more that he has prevented! The necessity of the trials that God does allow is clarified in verse 7: Genuine faith is strengthened, not destroyed, in times of difficulty. Trials are designed to test believers’ faith.

God’s testings aren’t like school exams, where we have to prove our knowledge and skill. Tests of faith are God’s way of purifying and refining, which is why Peter describes this divine process as “tested by fire.” Peter illustrates this by pointing to the worth and beauty of gold, a value that is evident only after this precious metal has been heated so hot in a fire that all the impurities are burned away. This refining imagery is also found in the Old Testament (see, for example, Job 23:8–10; Ps. 66:10–12; Prov. 17:3). We can glean a vital truth from this passage: Rejoicing in our salvation comes through understanding our salvation. As we trust God in the midst of difficulties, we learn through experience that he is everything he has promised to be. 

Third, the suffering we experience in the difficulties is what works to refine our faith. This is clear when Peter writes that “if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (v. 6). While sorrow and pain can harden unbelievers and lead them to shake their fists in God’s face, hearts captivated by Christ cling to him more tightly when life is rough and learn to trust him more fully as he proves again and again that he is sufficient for every trial we face.
Lydia Brownback is the author of several books in addition to the Flourish Bible Study series, including the On-the-Go Devotionals for women; Finding God in My Loneliness; and Sing a New Song. She is a regular speaker at conferences and events and is passionate about teaching God’s word.
1 Peter: Hope for Exiles
In this volume in the Conversational Commentary series, Lydia Brownback offers women a warm and clear verse-by-verse examination of the book of 1 Peter. It’s an accessible resource for personal study, small-group discussions, teaching, and outreach.