Peter had no doubt about the faith of the people to whom he wrote. “You have been born again to a living hope…to an inheritance”. These were people made new by Jesus Christ with a hope that was alive and an inheritance in heaven that God was keeping secure for them. All of this made possible “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. Easter promise!

But a living Savior and a living hope do not exclude believers from the grief of trials. They practically assure them! What is the purpose of trials for those who trust and serve a living Savior? What joy can we have and what kind of outcome can we expect from our faith?