When Life Hurts/God's Suffering

Wow, haven't done this in a while, but today in church something clicked for me.

Today we talked about God's suffering in our lives. He doesn't give us suffering for a reason, sometimes he tests us with suffering. Suffering isn't good, its not like we like it so much that we sign up for "Suffering 101" (tm) Pastor Jeff.
God doesn't like suffering either, but its just a way of life. Sometimes through hard times (like when we're suffering) we grow closer to God.

Sometimes we suffer when we talk to people about Jesus. They make fun of us and don't believe us and that sometime hurts.

Verses from this morning:

1 Peter 4:10, 11, 13, 16, 19
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
11 If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

In a nutshell of those verses, it says:
If you have a gift that God has given you, use in a way that shows that God is being praised through you. You might be overwelmed with his gifts, but His glory is going to be revealed through you no matter what happens. You will suffer when you are Christian, but don't be ashamed to proclaim his name even though some people won't like it.
When you believe in God, commit yourselves to him and continue to do good.

It's funny how much stuff you can learn in an hour.

That's all for today.

~Sarah~