Suffering According To God's Will?

Last night I had an interesting dream about a family with four kids who felt called to the Mission field in a dangerous country.  They were preparing to go, and to help them get ready for the huge adjustment they were going to experience, they were working at living simply and embracing difficulty. Two things they were doing were interesting, the first was what they called a note-card fast.  They wrote 5 or 6 things on the card, and only did those things for a few days.  It allowed them to focus on what is really important, learning to live without.  On the other side of the card, they listed the difficulties that they were experiencing and celebrated them.  That is where I woke up.  

When I woke up I was immediately reminded of a few different verses, but specifically a verse from 1 Peter 4:19 NIV:  "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

This is such an interesting verse and on its own, out of context, it could raise some serious questions.  However, it is directly related to the verses that precede it, and should be quoted that way or the all important context gets filtered out.   Here is most of the preceding paragraph - 1 Peter 4:14-19 NIV:

[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."

In this case, the suffering mentioned previously is essentially a type of persecution, hardship because of the name of Christ, as a follower of His.  The word "according" in verse 19 is related to our obedience and following after Christ, not as one could read, 'because God wants you to suffer'.  Jesus did warn His disciples that they would undergo  trials and persecutions because they were His followers (Matt 5:11), and this is exactly that.  

God doesn't take joy in causing us to suffer! He does not direct suffering to land on our heads, or fill up our lives.  However, He recognizes that the way He has birthed the church and His kingdom, in this present age, will cause conflict, and we, as His followers, will be affected by this conflict.  We will undergo unpleasant experiences, which is what the Greek word pascho, here it is translated suffering, means.  If we follow Christ, we will experience unpleasant things.  We will see relationships affected, we will have the option to  conform our wills to His,  which will require us dying to our own will.  All of this is a form of suffering, a passing through unpleasant experiences in our journey to follow Him. 

In the dream this morning, the family grasped this all and understood that they were going to be walking into unpleasant and difficult circumstances, and their choice to obey that call was clearly leading them down that path.  The Lord wasn't desirous of their suffering, He was calling them into a place of ministry, and suffering was going to be one of their experiences.  At the same time, they would likely experience signs and wonders and glorious miracles in His name, so that their focus would be more on the faithfulness of God, and not so much on their suffering.  

I think that for many of us Christians, we think it is going to be all one or the other, blessing or suffering, and the truth is that there will be both, and we must not be surprised.  We must be willing to grow, to strengthen ourselves, and recognize that the world will not love us because we follow Him, but that in following Him we will see His name glorified!  Jesus Himself said the following, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)

So, this morning I am encouraged to lean into the Lord, trusting His plan and purposes, and recognizing that life isn't going to always be a bed of roses.  I am encouraged to look at my life and consider those things that are most important, making sure to keep my focus on them, rather than being distracted by everything that is going on all over the world.  I am encouraged that on my path of following Jesus I will endure hardship even suffering, but that I will experience far more glorious things in and through His presence.  I am encouraged, by my love for Him, to embrace all that comes my way, not seeking hardship, but not fearing it.

Lord, help me to follow You!

Amen!