“K, is it worth it? Yes, if you are strong enough.” Quoted from Men in Black

In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  1 Peter 1: 6-7 

The Jews of the Diaspora are called upon to rejoice in the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah by God.  It is the first ‘hands on’ work from God for almost two centuries.  That is the time of silence from the last prophet, Malachi, to the coming of Jesus.  The death and resurrection of Jesus, and what that means, it is all set in the context of God the Father, God the Creator, the God that Christians and Jews continue to share (but we might do a better job of it!).

Peter is seeking to create a context for the trials they have suffered.  The context is that of refinement by fire.  They have been challenged, we do not know exactly what they went through.  But in the end, they are stronger for it.  It is the exposure of the genuineness of their faith.  It would have been easiest to simply drop all the “Jesus-talk” and slid back to what they believed before.

But Peter would have no reason to write to those people.

This audience is standing firm.  And Peter is seeking to support them in their faith, looking to what they have to look forward to.  It is reassurance that what they are suffering is, in fact, worth the trouble.