Faith & Suffering

Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. - 1 Peter 1:7

Too many people would have you believe that suffering is a result of lack of faith. More faith, purer faith, greater faith is the shield we are to use to deflect suffering as it would try to enter our lives.

This does not seem to be the message that the Apostle Peter is communicating to the hearts of the hard pressed believers who were in the midst of great suffering.

His message was not that faith was an escape route from suffering but that suffering was proving the genuineness of that faith. And, that faith proved by suffering would never be forgotten and would one day be displayed for all to see.

Just as the conquering armies of the day would hold a homecoming celebration where all the spoils of war, gold and riches, were put on display as proof of their victory, on the day of all days, Jesus will put on display your faith forged and proved genuine in the battle of suffering.

It would seem that God suggests that suffering proves faith is genuine and not that faith is lacking!