From Surprised to Soul-Settled

Last week I promised we'd look into the Apostle Peter's personal theology of suffering. 

Before I bullet point his thoughts, I want to add a P.S. to last week.

It's only natural to feel surprise at the arrival of any unexpected event in our lives...

For goodness sake, only a Dr. Spock (if you're a Trekkie fan) calmly and unemotionally reacts.

So, Peter's not trying to send us on a guilt-trip for expressing a little knee-jerk-shock before we've had time to process. 

Nope.

Peter wants us to put tools in our pockets so that we've already processed when the time comes, and the lapse between the astonishment and the reigning of peace in our hearts grows shorter with the onset of each trial. 

Peter was no stranger to suffering. He desired his teachings to settle hearts even amidst exile-living, AND reduce that element of surprise. Instead of reacting negatively, we have time to catch our breath and respond positively. 

During our stint serving  in Africa at a school for missionary's children, if I'd studied and taken ownership of even just Peter's words (not to mention the whole counsel of God's words), I'd have spared my heart a lot of turmoil when difficulty landed on my doorstep.

Instead, it took me weeks and weeks of a troubled spirit, disquieted within me, to finally discover this truth. With God's help, a timely message placed strategically in my mailbox on a cassette tape (smile), and the soothing words of Scripture, I ultimately arrived at that place of a quieted soul.

Hear what Peter wants to remind us...

SUFFERINGS ARE MOMENTARY

In the midst of the hardship, time drags. Yet, in light of eternity to come, what we experience is the blink of an eye. So, my focus needs to transfer on the there and then, not the here and now. Do I allow the burdens of today to put me on a merry-go-round of a troubled mind, or am I resting in the fact that Jesus has a plan even in this? And, in light of our heavenly hope, this is just a "little while."

TRIALS REFINE US.

While trials feel fiery they will reveal to us the genuineness of our faith (down through the ages, the "gold" of our faith is always purified by fire). What might the Lord be doing in me right now that will ultimately bring Him glory? Thank Him!

GOD'S FAVOR WILL BE POURED OUT ON US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS

All trials come in various shapes and sizes (various - the word means variegated, as in different shades); but, good news (!) God's grace is described with the same word (1 Peter 4:10, God's varied grace). For every shade of trial there is a grace from God to help us endure what we are experiencing. Where can I see God's grace in the midst of today's difficulties? Give Him praise! 

TRIALS HELP US KNOW OUR SAVIOR MORE INTIMATELY

In the midst of our hard times, as we seek the Lord and His word, we get to share in the fellowship of His suffering.  The Apostle Paul tells us that through this sharing we will know Jesus even more and live even closer to His heart, knowing His thoughts, and experiencing His deep love for us - (Philippians 3:10). What might God be teaching me in the midst of my trials - about His character, His relationship with me, His word, His watchcare over me... Respond with gratitude...

JESUS SUFFERED FOR ME...with so great a salvation, how can I not receive suffering as a gift if He asks it of me?

Peter (and even Jesus) said that if one's teacher suffers, won't His students also experience the same (Matthew 10:24-32)? No student is better than the master! How can this lead to appreciating His suffering on our behalf even more? 

TRIALS DON'T MEAN WE'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG; so, there is no need to live in shame.

Simply because we are suffering doesn't mean we've sinned. This has been a typical belief down through the ages. BUT, remember the story of the man born blind? Jesus was asked, "Who sinned, the baby in the womb or the parents?" Oh my! He responded - "Neither!" And, remember dear Job and his three tiresome friends? The trials Job endured are a testimony of his right living, not wrong actions. 

NOW THEN...SIDE NOTE: we should always check our hearts...is there something we need to confess? We often suffer consequences for our actions. Paul warns us that we will "reap what we sow." Sin does have consequences. 

Have I examined my heart? Have I repented of any sin that might lead to difficult consequences? Or, are these trials I'm experiencing for another reason? A refinement? A new lesson? A testimony of God's goodness to the lost around me? An opportunity to show the world that loving Jesus and living for Him looks different on us than the rest of the world? A way to know Him better? 

ULTIMATELY, OUR SUFFERINGS LEAD TO REJOICING.

Over and again as Peter discusses the trials of life, he clearly expresses that our outlook should be one of rejoicing. Why? Because God, the Father, the King of Kings, the Good Shepherd, the Almighty, Creator of the Universe is watching over us. 

Tuck these truths in your pocket. Pull them out in difficult times and let them work God's peace right into your heart. 

SURPRISE!

Surprise! 

What rises in you when you hear that word?

Do you love surprises?

Or do you prefer predictability—knowing what’s coming and when?

A little internet research informed me that most people like to be surprised. 

(I was, actually, surprised by this). 

Those who don't have a need for PREDICTABILITY...and, surprise always falls into the category of uncertainty. 

I’m a bit neutral. Most of my surprise-experiences have been good ones.

But it’s the hard surprises—the ones that arrive uninvited and unwelcome—that tend to shake me (and probably you, as well):  the loss of a loved one, a difficult diagnosis, a fractured relationship…
even the smaller disruptions—delays, cancellations, misplaced luggage.

Those are the ones that throw us.

And yet…surprises are part of life.

If we’ve embraced our identity as holy oddballs—elect exiles, sojourners, pilgrims—Peter tells us there is one “surprise” we should actually expect.

SUFFERING! 

In fact, Peter goes so far as to say DIFFICULTY shouldn’t surprise us at all.

“Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you…as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12)

Peter is helping us redefine what is normal.

Trials are not interruptions to our lives.
They are part of the pathway of our faith.

“…though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith…may be found to result in praise and glory and honor…” (1 Peter 1:6–7)

During the years I studied to obtain my degree in counseling, one of my professors encouraged all of his students to develop a theology of suffering. 

In fact, the final for that class wasn't an exam, but basically a dissertation on the subject.

That exercise revealed, with clarity, how little I understood what the Scriptures tell me about dealing with this topic. 

Peter knew we'd need our own theology; a firm foundation to stand on when we have to face the trials of life.

He starts with two simple truths intended to shift our understanding of "normal" and help us to steady our souls.

His goal for us is to move more rapidly from  SURPRISE to SOUL-SETTLED when suffering lands in our laps.

First—tribulation is normal.
There is nothing unusual happening when hardship comes.
It is not personal. It is not proof that something has gone wrong.
It is part of living in a broken world.

Maybe… it’s just our turn.

Second—the Lord is present.
We do not suffer alone.
And if He is with us, He is not passive—He is purposeful.

He is refining.
He is strengthening.
He is preparing something in us that will one day result in glory.

Again, Peter’s goal is not to explain away suffering—but to prepare us for it.

So that we can move, more quickly,
from surprise…to a settled soul.

And, I believe he's inviting each of us to develop our own Biblical understanding of suffering... (praise the Lord, he won't be giving us a grade!). 

In Peter's experience, he knows we're going to need it...and he wants his listener's to be ready.

So, let's add this exercise to the top of our to-do-lists (even I need a refresher on my theology of suffering)...and more of Peter's advice next week.

Holy Oddballs One-Another (and a look at Easter)

Just around the corner (this Sunday), we will celebrate Easter. 

Sometimes, it's easy to get lost in the doings and the trappings, rather than reflecting and celebrating the reason of the season (just like at Christmas time).  Hence, the reason, I attempt to set aside Lent as a season to "journey to the cross" and sit in its shadow...

"Easter" (as my young grandson once informed me) is a 'BIG DEAL!'"

Indeed!

It's so much more than bunnies and baskets; Easter reminds us that once we: 

...were dead in our trespasses and sins, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air...the passions of our flesh...and were by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3)

...were the uncircumcised and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world... (Ephesians 2:11)

...were far off, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel...(Ephesians 2:12)

...lived behind a dividing wall of hostility...(Ephesians 2:14)

 

BUT GOD...

...being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, made us alive together in Christ, brought us near by His blood, tore down that dividing wall, grew us into a holy temple, fellow members of the household of God, and filled our hearts with PEACE, HOPE, JOY... (Ephesians 2:4-22)

How can we not rejoice the way the Apostle Peter encourages (Greek word - agalliaō; a combination of words meaning much joy; to jump for joy, exult, be exceedingly glad)?!?!

Easter spotlights for us the one-anothering of Jesus, especially His "work" on earth as submitted servant (see last week's blog).

Jesus...who, though, He was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant....and, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient (this Greek word can also be translated as submissive) to the point of death...on a cross 

(Philippians 2:6-8). 

Jesus...who for the JOY set before Him (Hebrews 12:2b)...willingly gave up His will to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42) that He might die once for all sinners (Romans 6:10) that we might live to eternal life. 

So, when Peter says, "put on Jesus (again, this is my translation of Peter's instructions to the holy oddballs to whom he is writing his letter)" - keeping Easter at the forefront of our brains - the first response that comes to mind is - - - - Now,

Go and do likewise:

ONE-ANOTHER one another, just as Jesus did, faithfully submitted to the Father with a heart to serve.