Always Be Prepared

What happens when our faith is tested by suffering, hostility, or circumstances we never expected? In 1 Peter 3:8–22, we are reminded that the hope we carry can speak most clearly when life is difficult. When you endure hardship with grace, when you repay insult with blessing, you enter into what the Apostle Paul referred to as “the fellowship of His sufferings.” The fellowship of the cross. You get a sense of what it feels like to be Jesus, and you become more like him. Peter calls us not to repay evil with evil, but to pursue peace, do good, and remain ready to explain the hope we have in Christ, with gentleness and respect. This message points us to Jesus, who knows suffering firsthand, and reminds us that hardship does not have the final word. Our hope in Christ can shape the way we respond, the way we welcome others, and the way we witness to the world around us.