In the middle of a letter that’s all about suffering, Peter throws in a word to address his readers: “Beloved” (1 Peter 4:12).
Maybe you thought that word was just a polite greeting. Maybe you thought it was just a rhetorical flourish, like how some preachers and politicians like to say “Friends” a lot, even when they’re speaking to a group of people they’ve never met.
But Peter’s not just using that word to be nice. His theme is suffering, and Peter realizes that when you’re suffering, it can be easy to doubt that God really loves you. I’ve been through excruciatingly painful times, and there were moments when I wondered whether God loved me less than the other people around me who seemed to be blessed much more than me.
That’s because our idea of love usually revolves around God giving us what we want.
We’re no better than kindergartners. Last week, my daughter Talia finished a TV show and she asked me if she could watch another show. I said, “No, that’s enough TV for today.”
She took me by the shoulders, looked me square in the face, and said, “Daddy, when I grow up, I’m going to love my kids. I’m going to let them watch whatever they want, and eat whatever they want. I’m going to love my kids a lot more than you do.”
I couldn’t stop myself. I burst out laughing. Because I said the exact same thing to my dad when I was a kindergartner. When I wiped the tears of laughter from my eyes, I said, “I doubt that. When you grow up, hopefully you’ll understand that love doesn’t mean giving someone everything they ask for.”
But we still need the reminder Peter’s giving us – just because you’re suffering doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you.
In fact, if you never suffer, it might mean God loves you less. Hebrews 12:7 says, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” If you’re a child of God, you’re going to suffer!
So Peter says, “Beloved…those whom God dearly loves… do not be surprised at the fiery trial.” In other words, don’t be surprised when God brings suffering your way, and don’t doubt his love when it happens.