Hope in suffering

Iraq and Afghanistan are rarely out of the news. This week they’ve featured even more prominently.

First there were bombings in Baghdad and then the threat of violence amidst elections in Afghanistan. These countries have faced serious suffering, as did those to whom Peter was writing in this week’s readings.

But Peter points his readers to the eternal perspective in the context of suffering. Because of Christ, they have hope. Suffering for doing good is commended – it’s the example of Christ.

In Iraq and Afghanistan many have suffered in their attempts to do good, yet they persist. Why? Probably because they hope for better things. They are looking to the bigger picture.

In Afghanistan, people are willing to risk violent attacks to vote. Hope is a powerful motivator throughout suffering.

The need to focus on the bigger picture may also prove necessary for A Level students this week. Many are expected not to get clearance places at university.

No doubt there will be many disappointed students. Focusing on the bigger picture may just help them to find the positives in these situations.

Finally, debate this week has centred on the release of the Lockerbie bomber and his Libyan identity: is he just being released to improve relations with Libya? Peter is concerned about identity and reminds his readers that in Christ they have a new identity.

It can be easy to forget that our primary identity needs to be in Christ. But it’s this identity that gives us hope – hope that sustains us through whatever trials and sufferings we may face and calls us to live lives that testify to God, no matter what.

Susannah Clark