Catechism: Finding YourselfSample

By the end of his life, Peter had seen it all. From the highs of hearing Jesus teach and perform miracles to the lows of persecution and poverty, Peter experienced the physical and emotional costs of following Jesus. Yet this letter to a suffering church community is filled with calls to praise God, be joyful, and have hope!

Peter wanted people to understand that every trial we face, every temptation we fight, and every sacrifice we make is worth the priceless inheritance that awaits us in heaven. While our suffering is painful, it’s only temporary! There’s an everlasting reward we can look forward to in eternity.

God sees and knows everything we give up for his sake. For people struggling with their gender and sexual identity, God sees the effort you put into struggling against sin. While culture encourages us to seek our best life now, say “yes” to our desires, and pursue instant gratification, Peter is encouraging us to look forward to eternal life with Jesus. When we think about everlasting, true, deep joy, we can face our temporary struggles with hope.

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Reflection Questions:

• How does thinking of your struggles as lasting “a little while” (v. 6) help you endure them? How can thinking about eternal life motivate you to keep going?
• Peter was writing to encourage a community of believers who were going through a difficult time. How can being part of a community help you persevere through hard times? Have you ever been part of a church community where you felt safe enough to talk about your struggles? How can you be part of creating that kind of community for yourself and others?