Time Well Spent Bible Study with Cornelius F. Warren

Peter, in writing to suffering Christians, tells them that they greatly rejoice at the same time that they are distressed by various trials (1 Peter 1: 6). He is not denying the distress--the word means grief or pain. But neither is he discarding the genuine joy that a Christian can experience in the midst of the pain if he has the right perspective. Peter himself had felt it. After being flogged and warned to speak no further in the name of Jesus, he and the other apostles “went on their way ... rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5: 41). 

That’s joy from the pits! In our text, Peter tells us how to have it:

Because the Savior uses trials to refine our faith we can have joy from the pits by looking to Him and His salvation.

In 1 Peter 1: 3-5 points us to our future inheritance in heaven; verses 6-9 directs us to our present joy amidst trials.