Once again Peter reminds us that as exiles we can expect to suffer in this life. In fact, he tells us not to be surprised if and when we do suffer—as if it were something strange or out of the ordinary! We live in a world that is broken by our sin and thus suffering is a reality for everyone. As Christians, we can expect not just the suffering of living in a broken world but suffering and persecution due to following Jesus. Peter tells us that this type of suffering (while hard) can be used by God to make us more like Jesus. We can rejoice when we suffer for his sake, knowing that we’ll also share in his glory when he returns. When we suffer we can entrust our souls to the care of our faithful God, just like Jesus did when he suffered on the cross. Don’t be surprised if you suffer, God is working (and in control!)—you can trust him.