Suffering

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

This verse is encouraging to me. This life is painful, and full of suffering. Sometimes we assume that if we live for Jesus then our lives will be smooth sailing... Free from pain and tough times. That's simply not true. God doesn't promise us a life that's sheltered from hardship. Rather, He warns us that suffering will come.

The encouraging thing is that Jesus suffered too. You can't get more perfect than He was. He was totally committed to the work of His Father, yet He was not spared great suffering. Jesus can relate to pain. He endured intense pain on my behalf. He knows what it's like to hurt, cry, be broken-hearted, and abandoned.

So Peter exhorts us to keep doing good even in the midst of suffering. 

I'm so thankful for the strength that God gives us. He doesn't leave us out there without hope.