1 Peter 4:19
Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Suffering, the will of God, faithfulness—can all these three words align in a situation? Sounds strange, right? But the verse of the day reveals that they can all work together for good in the life of a child of God. In Matthew 5:11, Jesus calls us blessed when we suffer because of Him.
Suffering has a cleansing and refining effect on us if we commit our souls to God. He is looking for a sanctified, blameless bride: His church. James encourages us to count it joy when we face challenges, as it can build perseverance that will lead us to maturity (James 1:2-4). If we cling to Him even when it doesn’t make sense, we become more like Jesus than when we first entered the dark tunnel of suffering.
If our trial is in God’s will, we don’t go through it alone. The Holy Spirit rests upon us to strengthen us. If we strive with steadfast faith, our Lord is glorified in and through us. It also helps us have compassion for others going through trials, and encourages them to keep walking in faith.
Suffering also reveals different aspects of God that we might not have experienced before. The powerful psalms sung by David would not have been written without facing lions, Saul and Goliath. A mighty prophet like Samuel might not have risen without the desperate tears of a barren Hannah!
If your trials are because you are doing what God said, then walk forward. Trust Him. He knows what He is doing. Keep on doing what is good, regardless of the suffering it might bring. God, who created the world and is Lord over everything, will see us through. And through it all, we will taste the faithfulness of God first-hand.
