The book of 1 Peter deals much with suffering and persecution. Peter’s heart must have been heavy as he watched many in the early church bearing intense burdens, often because of their testimony for Christ. Peter himself endured many trials as he unashamedly preached the glorious Gospel of Christ wherever he went.

Toward the beginning of his epistle, Peter gives to us an apparent paradox in…

1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Peter included in the same thought the heavy weight of trials and temptations along with a very unexpected response, rejoicing. The ability to walk through difficult trials, where emotions often run wildly; frequently following what seems to be a path through total darkness, with no lane markers or sign posts. We simply stumble our way toward what we believe is the prepared goal, the finish line where hopefully our journey will begin to make sense.

It is in the midst of such a journey that Peter admonishes us to rejoice. Of course, that would not be our natural response. I can imagine that complaining and bitterness would be a more likely outcome. How could Peter even suggest such an unnatural reaction to pain and suffering? Likely Peter had experienced many such roads, along which he had reacted both naturally and supernaturally. He had found himself complaining because of his situation; and at other times he had seen by faith that the Lord could be using his trials for a greater purpose. It was likely as a result of his own successes and failures that he boldly told his audience to rejoice; it was a far better and rewarding response to trials.

I think that Peter found within his trials a very important truth; one that gave him the ability to turn his complaining into rejoicing. Our text verse describes a ‘season’ of being heavy from many trials. That was probably where Peter found himself most of the time. It was in those seasons that he learned the truth described in the phrase, ‘if need be.’

Those three words are powerful. Their impact is often overshadowed by the glaring contradiction between manifold temptations and rejoicing. Their meaning is simply, ‘when it is necessary.’ In other words, Peter tells us here that there will be times that trials, even heavy ones, will become necessary. He does not give us much to go on regarding the reason that makes them necessary, only that they become important.

What we must understand is that whatever makes them necessary is in the hands of the Lord. He knows both what we need, and what can be useful for the growth of His work. Trials can purify our hearts, and soften us to once again acknowledge when others suffer. Trials can become a platform from which the amazing grace of God goes on display for others to take note and be blessed.

Since we don’t often know the reason for our trials, it is best to simply trust them to the Lord, and rejoice that He can use them for His glory.