Week 2 - Smyrna
Task: Read a chapter of 1 Peter a day. Record any changes to your perspective on suffering this week.
CHristine ha
This week, I received a phone call I had been anxiously waiting for—it was from someone related to my workplace. As soon as she started speaking, her condescending tone immediately irritated me, especially since I had never spoken to or met her before. As the conversation continued, my frustration kept building up. When she finished speaking, instead of taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, I said things that were out of line and began shaming her.
Later, I reflected specifically on 1 Peter 3:9. After rereading the verse, I reminded myself that, as a believer, I am called to show Christ’s love and should strive to act more like Him. So, later in the week, I called her and apologized for my hurtful words.
I continue to be impacted by 1 Peter 3:9 as it reminds me that God calls me to respond and show love instead of seeking retaliation. Instead of fighting fire with fire, I can take the challenges I face and use them as opportunities to grow something beautiful for His kingdom.
CHris KWAK
Reading 1 Peter this week was very humbling. The Christians Peter was writing to were going through life-or-death situations, but Peter called them to stand firm in their faith and see the bigger picture of Christ’s glory awaiting them. When I am suffering, I go into survival mode. I feel like I have no time to give thanks or worship God when I’m just trying to survive day to day. The believers Peter wrote to were also probably in their own version of survival mode, probably in the most literal sense of the term. But instead of comforting and reassuring them of their safety or that the situation would get better, Peter points them to the cross. He makes it clear that suffering will continue to be a part of the believer’s life. He reminds the Christians that this suffering is something Jesus knows very personally as he went through the ultimate suffering: taking on God’s wrath and dying for his enemies.
I think this word is especially encouraging to those living in very difficult situations. Instead of false promises or temporary fixes to their situation, Peter gives them the greatest gift: Jesus and his promise to be with us and walk with us into eternity. These believers who had nothing left, who feared for their lives, continued to hold onto this truth: Jesus is enough. I want to be challenged, and I want to believe that Jesus is enough. Those of us, including myself, who may not go through extreme suffering may try to go through it alone or numb our pain. But whether our suffering is big or small, we must try to put all our trust in Jesus in every situation.