A Video Bible Study: Elizabeth George’s
“Putting on a Gentle and Quiet Spirit”
Lesson 20

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now

“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator
1 Peter 4:12-19

Today’s lesson reminds us that suffering is a normal part of our Christian walk; it is even to be expected….so we should not think it “strange”.  We do not need to ask ourselves, and God, “Why?”  We must remember that He is a purposeful God Who is wise, powerful and good.  And we can rest in that, and in Him, when suffering comes.

In fact, we must remember that Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).  Jesus said this because He knows about suffering, and He knows that suffering is not the end of the story, “He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Is 53:3).  Yet this same man, Jesus, Who died for our sins according to the Scriptures…was buried, [and] was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4).

Jesus does not want us to worry, because everything is going according to plan: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).  There is hope in good times and in bad.

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