Amongst life's hardships and challenges, discouragement seems inevitable. I have often cursed my life and thought, "Life isn't fair! Why do I have so many trials? I'm tired of being ridiculed by those who do not keep the commandments." I've often felt that I was doing right, that I was trying to be good, and I didn't understand why life was so difficult and filled with small tragedies. In his first epistle, Peter taught me how to overcome this mindset. Yes, my trials will be difficult, and possibly too heavy to endure alone, but I must remember that my Heavenly Father loves me, and that he is always there for me to rely on.
Peter taught me that I must realize the great good God has done for me. Foremost of all, He has given me the Atonement. Through Christ's sacrifice, I will be resurrected, I can repent of my sins and wrongdoings, I can become perfected, and I will have "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for [me]" (Peter 1:4). In the middle of my trials and temptations, I must always return my thoughts to the "lively hope" of God's mercy (1:3). If I embrace Christ's Atonement in faith and lay my burdens upon the Lord, my faith will become perfected, and I will find "praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1:7).
When I suffer persecution and ridicule for my beliefs and actions, it cuts me to the core.
I often think that I should be blessed for my righteous action, not punished with disdain from my peers. However, Peter teaches throughout his epistle that persecution in the name of righteousness is a blessing and an honor. Those that do evil give me an opportunity to do good. When I serve those that ridicule me, they will see God's influence and spirit within me. If I put aside bitterness and anger and act in faith and love, I will "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (2:15). They will have no power or influence over me because they will know that God is with me. Peter wrote that each of us is called to suffer as a Christian. I must, like Christ, suffer for my well-doings and endure it patiently. When I do so, I can become more like my Savior and show God that I follow him. I become united with him in my suffering, and taken in by the "Shepherd and Bishop" of my soul (2:25).
Peter wrote, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you... if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful creator" (4:12-14, 16, 19).
I need not fear, but rejoice in suffering, for God allows me trials in order to bring me closer to him.
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