1 Peter 4:12-19
Have you ever had to endure unpleasant circumstances that were beyond your control? It would sure be unusual if you haven’t. How is it that bad things happen to us when we have angels looking out for us; when Christ Himself is interceding for us; and when God Himself, who is all-powerful and all-knowing is all for us? If God is my fortress, how did this stuff get over the mote and into the fortification?
This passage might be helpful in sorting out our answers. How are we as His followers to respond to suffering? What value, if any, is there to suffering? If we will permit Peter to speak to us, he will answer these questions that so many of us have asked or may be asking still;
1) Since Jesus has suffered, arm yourself with the very same purpose. 2) Don’t let suffering catch you off guard as if a test were an unexpected thing. 3) When You suffer according to God’s will, entrust Yourself to Him. 4) Christ shares His suffering with some. If you are privileged to be one of them, stay current in your rejoicing, knowing that exultation awaits you. 5) Trials and suffering are necessary sometimes. They serve as a refining fire for our faith which will prove more precious than gold. Responding well to suffering will result in the eternal benefit of praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I will once again recommend two classic books by the late Paul Billheimer; Don’t Waste Your Sorrows and Destined for the Throne. These books hammered home a spiritual reality into my belief system. It was that from life’s painful experiences, God could somehow create eternal value and blessing. So, when an event causing suffering came, there was always a hope and anticipation, albeit faint at times, that God would be meeting me somewhere in the future with a reward. The presence of that idea has always help encourage perseverance and faith.
I do not look forward to suffering at all. But, if suffering is necessary, for some unknown reason, the last thing I want to do is squander any value that might be embedded in it by grumbling or becoming hard and embittered. I believe the same principle applies in all the various expressions of suffering ranging from inconvenience to catastrophe.
Father, We really don’t need to know why painful experiences come our way as Your followers. Regardless of our poor initial reaction to suffering help us to recover quickly, realizing that we are being raised as sons of God; as brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ and that You are a competent and loving parent who is capable of making use of everything that touches our life regardless of where it comes from. Amen.