Do Not Be Surprised by the Fire: 1 Peter 4:12-19: Day 18

Suffering for Christ is not evidence of God's absence; it can be an opportunity to trust Him more deeply.Peter knows his readers are suffering, and now he tells them something they may not expect: don't be surprised by it. Following Jesus does not mean we will avoid suffering. Sometimes, faithfulness actually brings suffering. But Peter gives them a completely different way to see it. Suffering for Christ is not evidence that God has abandoned us. In some mysterious way, it can become participation in the sufferings of Christ and therefore a reason to rejoice.Peter isn't romanticizing pain. He's reminding suffering believers that their pain isn't the end of their story. Jesus is coming. God is faithful. And we can entrust ourselves to Him while continuing to do good.Reflection: What would it look like for you to "entrust your soul" to God in the situation you're currently facing?