Responding to Crisis: Faith that Endures

It took a few minutes of staring at my computer screen before I could even start to type. On a personal note, the past few months seem to have been one trial after another, both physically and emotionally. Crafting the title to this post brought one big thought to my mind: What does God want for his children in seasons of crises and suffering? Thankfully, God has provided a clear answer for us in His Word. 

The Church and Suffering

Peter writes to the five churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1). Why is this vast distribution of churches encouraging? Perhaps one application to draw is that suffering as a believer is not condensed to a few local churches. Suffering is the experience of the universal church. 

In the context of salvation, Peter says, “In this [salvation] you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trails, 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 (1 Peter 1:6-7). 

In this book, God gives His people a theology of suffering and a hope beyond the present. Peter, inspired by God’s Spirit, points us to the ultimate reason the church suffers: the praise, glory and honor of Jesus. In his commentary on 1 Peter, Edmund P. Clowny says, “Our troubles last only for a little while; our hope in Christ is forever” (1).

In seasons of trial, God desires His people to look to Him and take joy in the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus as His people endure hardship.

As An Example

Later in the book of 1 Peter, the apostle tells us that Christ suffered for us as an example (chapter 2:21). This means that Christ desires that we suffer the same way He did - with humility and submission to the will of God.

The church is commanded to follow in the footsteps of her Savior. Just as Christ suffered, the church is called to suffer. This means death. An encounter with the cross of Christ in His suffering means death to our own desires that would seek to defend ourselves or want things our own way. 

More Like Jesus

Jesus is most honored in humility (Philippians 2) not only of himself, but of his people. As his church, we are promised sanctification through suffering. This is a glorious promise that unbelievers cannot benefit from. As Christians endure trials with patience and hope in Christ, we are transformed more and more into the image of Christ himself. 

This is our hope and how the church can endure hardship. It’s a faith that endures and lasts and grows stronger as time passes. 

Christian, if you are feeling distraught and down by the trials of life, look to Jesus alone. While the problem may not go away and there may be struggles, there is a hope that calls us to endure for the glory, honor, and praise of God. 

References:

'

Brittany Proffitt lives in Dallas and is a writer and content manager for So We Speak.