I Peter 1:8 – Joy in the Midst of Trials
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (NLT)
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, (NIV)
Faith is believing in things not seen. It is because of our faith, our belief in Jesus Christ, that we love Him, even though we have never seen Him. Faith...Belief...Trust...they all bring us into a relationship that fills us with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (CDC)
Peter was with Jesus for three intense years. He remembers many things that Jesus said, things he could not always understand. Some of the words recorded by John have made their way into this letter by Peter: Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29 NLT) We don't see Jesus, but our faith tells us He is with us. He stands with us in our fiery trials just as He did for the three Hebrew boys when they were thrown in the furnace. (see Daniel 3:19-27)
This letter was written to believers who had not been eyewitnesses to the miracles and ministry of Jesus Christ. Even though they had not see Him, they still believed in Jesus and loved Him deeply. They were living in a right relationship with Him, and therefore they were able to find joy even in the middle of their sufferings.
The “joy” Peter talks about in this verse is a fruit of the Spirit. It doesn't come from having everything we want, or everything going well in our lives...it comes from being in a right relationship with Jesus and having His Holy Spirit dwelling within us, guiding us, encouraging us.
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