How To Grow Through Suffering Series

Zeus ordered the creation of a new goddess because of his sheer boredom. According to In Greek mythology, Zeus had run out of other goddess to seduce, so he had Pandora created. Pandora was given a mysterious box and was told that whatever she did, she was not to open this box. She resisted the temptation for twenty minutes before opening the box. When she opened the box all the evils of the world came spilling out including sickness, death, and disease. Hope was the last thing to climb out of Pandora’s box. You and I still refer to Pandora’s box today, which is a reference to the ancient Greek gods. Surprisingly, many in ancient times saw hope as the dredge of evil itself. Atheist Friedrich Nietzsche explains how he views hope as evil: “Zeus did not want man to throw his life away, no matter how much the other evils might torment him, but rather to go on letting himself be tormented anew. To that end, he gives man hope. In truth, it is the most evil of evils because it prolongs man’s torment.”

Today, we talk about “hope against hope” or… or “hope for the best…” or “not a hope”. In this way hope is a synonym for optimism. Yet there is another side to hope.

Christianity speaks of hope in different tones that does ancient Greek or Roman mythology. Christianity speaks of hope even differently than you and I speak of hope today. Webster’s Dictionary defines Hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen” Hope in Christianity is much stronger and robust than it is commonly spoken of in everyday conversations. The Bible speaks of hope as a confident expectation. It speaks of hope as a conviction or with expectancy.

Hope is a powerful tool in the human psyche. The early settlers of our country realized this. The state seal for Rhode Island has the word hope in it. On the seal, you see the word hope above an anchor. The anchor is picture of Hebrews 6:19-20 where hope is referred to as a “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”

Today’s Big Idea: “Unjust suffering carried out with unwavering convictions and confidence in God produce unimaginable impact and blessing for you and others.”

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:13-17)

Peter has now moved to the issue that is dominants the remainder of his letter: the issue of Christians who suffer. Despite the best efforts of some, the fact is that Christians get old and wrinkled. We contract cancer and heart disease, become deaf and blind, and eventually die. According to a recent Gallup Poll, fewer than half (43%) of respondents report they have a “great deal of control” over their pain. An estimated 50 million Americans live with chronic pain caused by disease, disorder or an accident. In a study done in 2000 it was reported that 36 million Americans missed work in the previous year due to pain.

But there are some sufferings that are peculiar to the people of God. More people were martyred for the faith in the past century than in the previous 19 centuries combined. Some of this is due to the incredible growth in worldwide population. Even so, Christians in America, have been largely untroubled by official persecution. We must be aware that we are the exception and not the rule. Yet, even in our country, subtle anti-Christian pressures are increasing.

The Bible makes no attempt to whitewash the anguish of God’s people when it comes to suffering. All through Scripture, we see believers facing suffering who argue with God, complain to God, and weep before God. Last week, we observed Peter’s words of how God has turned the problem of suffering upside down. Christ-followers are freed from any need to vindicate themselves. Instead, suffering has become an opportunity to meet evil with good.

1. Experience a Fundamental Exchange

Peter has just told us in verse twelve that God will treat the righteous with kindness. There we are told that God is watching our actions and His eyes are upon the righteous and His ears hear their prayer. In contrast, God will set His face against those who do evil. Peter is speaking about the final judgment day. So in verse thirteen, Peter asks a rhetorical question. Peter is reasoning aloud in verse thirteen when he says: “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good” (1 Peter 3:13)? Peter’s answer is that no one will harm you for doing good. Peter still has the final and ultimate Day of Judgment in mind in verse twelve as he did in verse thirteen. While suffering stalks the believer until this Christ returns, the pain inflicted upon the Christian is temporary. When I say temporary, it will not feel temporary to many of you. It will feel temporary in the way a parent will tell their child to persevere through school because one day the child will graduate. That doesn’t feel temporary to teenagers suffering through Calculus. That doesn’t feel temporary to teenagers suffering through Beowulf. Yet, those of us who are older know it is temporary because we take the long view of life. And that is Peter’s explanation of suffering, it is temporary.