As part of preparing to teach Peter’s two New Testament epistles to some saints over coming days, I’m reading the Apostle Peter’s two New Testament epistles over and over, in addition to reading several books of scholarship on Peter and his life and his letters.

One of the themes that Peter emphasizes repeatedly is perseverance amidst persecution. He focuses on pressing on, on seeing things through, on intestinal fortitude, to use an Army cliche. I think of his first chapter of his first letter, for example, where he tells Christians who are currently enduring persecution that “you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pt 1:6-7).

Paul expresses the same teaching in 1 Cor 3:13, “each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” That’s comfort to the diligent Christian; it’s terror to the hireling. Why? Because no one escapes God’s gaze. Because God sees all, if we have any wisdom and self-awareness, we know to keep short accounts with God, because our motives and productivity are known to the omniscient and holy God. No one fools God, in other words.

So if we are Christians, we are to persevere under pressure. That may at times entail “suffering unjustly.” That’s the wording Peter uses in 1 Pt 2:19. But the Apostle Peter writes about this encouragement, namely, that it is a “gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (1 Pt 2:19). Mindful of God. That’s crucial to understand. Follow me.

Mindful of God means that we understand and take comfort in the fact that our plight, our circumstance, our lot, etc. is known to God. This is why folks love to quote 1 Pt 5:7: “casting all your anxieties on him [God], because he cares for you.” Folks love that verse. Why? Because it reassures Christians that their suffering, even unjust suffering, is not in vain.

Encouragement: I have no idea who may need to hear this. Maybe it’s just for me. I don’t know. But I do know this: per Scripture, God knows all things (Ps 139); He knows our joys and sorrows (Ex 3:7,9); He knows when I rise up and when I lie down (Dt 6:7); and Peter writes that He knows our sufferings (1 Pt 2:19); and Jesus says He knows every hair on my head (Lk 12:7). Does this mean we won’t suffer? No. Hardly. Just read the lives of the Apostle Peter or Paul or John, for example. Remember the life of John the Baptist? Remember the ending of Stephen, the martyr? Suffering is real; it’s part of God’s plan for His people; but He is with us–even and especially in the valley. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, / for you are with me; / your rod and your staff, / they comfort me” (Ps 23:4).