1 Peter 4:12-19 - Trusting God When Suffering Hurts

(12) Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (13) But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (14) If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (15) If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. (16) However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (17) For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  (18) And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (19) So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. I love / hate stories about huge big semi trucks being sent via Google maps through La Porte Road in the middle of Winter. It makes me so sad for them, but that awkward laugh about tragedy. It's so bad it makes you oddly laugh? Well analogy is different but true for life…Imagine heading out on a trip with directions that promise a smooth, easy drive. Then the pavement ends, the road narrows, and every mile becomes more difficult. Before long, you wonder whether you have taken a wrong turn. But what if someone who knew the road had told you ahead of time, “There is a rough stretch coming. Stay on the road; it will lead where you need to go and it's the only way to get there”? The road would be just as rough, but you would understand it differently and although clutching the wheel, would have confidence and focus to get through this rough patch.  Some of us have quietly accepted directions for the Christian life that Jesus never gave us. He never promised you a rose garden. It is not a smooth easy life, but it is fulfilling, purposeful, exciting, peaceful, and it is the only way to go!!! Peter writes to believers who need truthful directions. These believers were discovering that following Jesus would strain relationships and often make them outsiders in their own communities. Peter does not offer them an explanation for every painful event, but that painful events are a part of everyday life on earth.