I read a headline the other day about a famous actor (Billy Crystal) who recently abandoned his faith in God because of some tragedies that have happened to him and his friends.

In a recent interview, this celebrity shared that he no longer talks to or trusts God, explaining that too many tragedies and hardships have happened in the world. This marked a shift from his past beliefs. He previously expressed his faith in God. He even produced an award-winning show which featured his conversations with God.

His change in perspective followed a difficult period that included losing his home in a fire and losing a close personal friend to death.[1]

Sadly, the experience of this celebrity is fairly common. Many people abandon their faith in God because of trials and adversities that they or loved ones experience. They figure that God is not trustworthy if he allows people to suffer hardship, pain, or tragedy.

E.g. Satanist kid who resented what God had allowed in his life

People like that should read the book of 1 Peter; it’s all about retaining your faith in the midst of adversity.

Peter’s original readers were suffering for their faith. Peter assures them that they have a great inheritance in heaven, but that does not change the reality of the suffering they were currently enduring.

So Peter is trying to encourage his readers—and us—to continue on in faith in spite of persecution and hardship. We all suffer in various ways, and God expects us to endure faithfully through persecution and adversity. We can endure faithfully if we remember what Peter tells us here.

Notice what Peter says about persevering faithfully through trials.

[1] From a Google search, 20 Oct 2026.