Walking with God Will Include Suffering

1 Peter 3:17

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 4:19

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I wrote in the past about how we need to walk the path God has for us and that our path isn't going to be the same as someone else (Walk Your Path). We see here in these verses that sometimes the path He has for us may include suffering.

We may wonder why God would will us to suffer. Isn't life supposed to be better with God?

Well, do we think we are better than Christ? Christ was perfect yet endured much suffering. If we expect to not suffer, then we think we are better than Christ.

Also, if Christ suffered for us (taking on our sin and the punishment of death), then is it really too much for Him to ask us to suffer for Him? No! We should be willing and ready to suffer for well doing.

Besides, God will use our suffering for good (Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.).

We see how God will do this in:

1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 1:6-7

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:16 

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Our sufferings may lead others to Christ. They may strengthen our faith or the faith of others. And above all, our sufferings give glory to God.

The next time I am enduring suffering for doing good, I need to remind myself that it might be God's will. I shouldn't ask why, but instead give Him glory for what He will do through it.