The

apostle Peter encourages the church not only to anticipate hardship

but to prepare for trials that will inevitably come. One way to do

that is to prepare our minds. Through suffering, our confidence can

be renewed, knowing that Christ is at work in us. For many of us, the

difficult times in life lead to the most powerful testimony of God’s

presence and work in our lives.

Not

only are we to prepare our minds, but we must also prepare our hearts

to endure hardship. When Peter writes, “Love covers over a

multitude of sins,” he is referring to the way our sins affect our

relationships with other believers. The Christian life is not about

finding faults in one another. It’s about mercy and forgiveness. It

pleases God when we get along together. How can we do that? We show

hospitality, making guests feel welcome and sharing our resources. We

serve one another, being good stewards of the gifts God has given to

us. We serve and encourage one another as people who speak “the

very words of God.”

If

we expect to thrive in hard times, it will require unity and a

commitment to live peacefully together. Loving generously also

demonstrates our own understanding of the love and mercy of God that

we have received.