Where Is God When We Suffer For Christ?

Continuing our verse-by-verse study of 1 Peter, we pause to consider 1 Peter 4:14, a verse that greatly encourages us when we suffer for Christ:

If you are reproached (insulted or reviled) for the name of Christ, blessed are you, [why?] for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.*

1 Peter 4:14

While this verse does not explain everything about God’s will in Christian persecution, it does tell us something about God’s presence in our suffering:

God’s Spirit Rests Upon Us

By way of the Holy Spirit, God rests upon persecuted Christians in the same way He rested upon the tabernacle in the Old Testament. His presence was a reminder to the ancient Israelites He was always there.

In the same way, God is always with us when we suffer for Christ. His Spirit rests upon believers, an especially encouraging reminder when suffering at the hands of unbelievers.

You may also recall what happened at Jesus’ baptism, shortly after Jesus came up out of the water:

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him (Matthew 3:16).”

Think about this:

The same God who rests upon Christ rests upon His followers. 

When you and I came to faith in Christ, God “took up residence” within us. He indwelled us by way of His Holy Spirit. And His Spirit guides us through our journey of faith.

So when you suffer for your faith this week, be encouraged. Remember God’s Spirit rests upon you. 

And rather than wrongly concluding God has left you in your suffering, remember He is always with you and will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

He’s a good God and always does what is right. Every. Single. Time.

*There’s a phrase in the KJV and NKJV of verse 14 not in the older Greek manuscripts: “On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”  This is a true statement, of course, but it’s not in the oldest manuscripts and that’s why modern translations have omitted it.