Sometimes doing the right thing means dealing with opposition and suffering. We don’t get the promotion because we refuse to cut corners. We’re gossiped about for what we believe. In some parts of the world Christians are not gossiped about, but are killed for following Jesus.

Peter, one of Jesus’ followers, wrote 1 Peter to encourage the early church to stay strong in the face of suffering and to continue to follow Jesus.

Peter understood suffering. He watched Jesus continue to do the right thing right up until He died. And Peter, himself, experienced suffering as he lead the early church in Jerusalem.

1 Peter shows us that while we know that struggles will come in life, we don’t have to be afraid of them because Jesus has already conquered them. If we choose to focus on Jesus during the difficult times, then He will use them to increase our faith.