This reflection originally appeared in Daily Grace: The Mockingbird Devotional, Vol. 2:
Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good. (1 Peter 4:19)
Every Christian needs a doctrine of suffering, and Peter gives it to us here in his characteristic style: a few punchy clauses. Each and every one of us will suffer. We need to know what to do with that reality. Thus, God gives Peter these words to give to us.
First, we learn that we do not suffer capriciously. Whatever the reasons for it may be, our suffering is not outside of God’s care for us. This can be painful — why would a loving Father allow such suffering? But not one heartache of ours is wasted. God is making us more like Christ. All is in accordance with his will.
Secondly, we learn that we have one job, and that is the care of our souls. Peter is not speaking of our temporal bodies but our eternal souls. My own body is much afflicted: I have autoimmune spinal arthritis involving much physical suffering. Peter isn’t telling me to “let go and let God” and not visit a doctor or attempt treatment. Peter knows that suffering threatens our souls. How do we care for our souls? We “entrust” them to our faithful Creator. Because our Creator is faithful, we can trust ourselves to him.
Finally, we are to continue to do good. Is this a prescription to reduce suffering by obedience? Absolutely not. This is an exhortation that even in the midst of suffering, as we entrust ourselves to God, we have the privilege of still doing good. We do not have to pause our lives and suffer. God does not will for us to only experience the hard. He also wants us to, in the midst of inevitable suffering, enjoy our privilege of being co-creators and co-redeemers. The order here is important, though — doing good without trusting God will only lead to guilt and shame. But doing good in the light of trust in God is a great privilege.
Sufferer, know that God loves you and nothing is outside of his will. Trust your soul to him, and then enjoy the privilege we have to participate in his good works on earth.
I am sorry to hear about your physical suffering, which I’m sure gives way to emotional and mental suffering. I can relate. And yet the climax of Peter’s verse you write about is spot on: in my most despairing moments, I’ve learned to borrow a script from AA and ask, “Lord, bring me someone to whom I can be of service.” It usually takes no more than 30 minutes from him to provide someone, of course, because so many people need so much help. And for a few moments or even a few hours, my despair is lifted.