Peter aims the first comments of his letter not at addressing his audience’s difficult circumstances, nor at telling them how to conduct themselves while living in an evil world—there will be plenty of time for both of those things as the letter progresses—rather, Peter begins with praising God! In these opening lines of 1 Peter the tone is set for those who are living as exiles: set your hope on Jesus! The remedy for their suffering hearts is ultimately in blessing and praising God, turning their sights to the certain hope and unfading inheritance they have in Jesus Christ thanks to God’s grace and mercy. Because of God alone we have hope that’s alive and cannot (and will not) fail!