So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude … (1 Peter 4:1)
The stove burned my hand, and my lip quivered during the silence before a piercing scream. Years later, Grandmother passed away and left a gaping pit in my soul. Then my career culminated in business debt that plagued me with decades of worry. The lessons of life ingrain an instinctive aversion for suffering.
Then Jesus says, “Lose your life,” “Blessed are those who mourn,” and “My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Those teachings are so counterintuitive that I need Peter to explain. His letter says to arm ourselves with suffering. There must be something strong there, like weapons and munitions.
Ballistic power comes when I give up my attempts to dodge every hurt. If I can accept the fact that life includes a season of misery—always accompanied by strength from God to endure—then preoccupation with pain avoidance no longer owns me. I’m freed to live for the Source of life instead of for comfort.
Peter challenges me to adopt the same attitude as my suffering Lord. He doesn’t mean I should seek a new boulder of misery to move into my life. He only wants me to use whatever stone is already there, lay the plank of dependence squarely over the top, and leverage my heart toward God. The fulcrum presses me into his solace, where there is power for victory over another day.
I dance a jig when I see the enemy’s most hurtful rock forced into the service of lifting me toward the lover of my soul.
Prayer: Lord, may I use trials to move closer to you.