"Men will never be great in theology until they are great in suffering." - Charles Spurgeon

"God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." - C.S. Lewis

We often ask, "What is God doing to me?" in our suffering.

The better question is "What is God teaching me?" in my suffering.

1 Peter 4:12

"12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you."

1 Peter 4:7a

"7 The end of the world is coming soon."

Don't be surprised when a broken world feels like a broken world.

Our recognition of what is broken points to our knowledge of what it means to be whole.

Suffering is promised to those of us who follow Jesus.

1 Peter 4:13

"13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world."

Partner - when I make your mess, work, and success my mess, work, and success.

Jesus partnered in our mess.

Jesus invites us to partner in his work.

Jesus' success is our salvation.

Suffering will create a deeper partnership or a greater disconnect.

1 Peter 4:14

"14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God[a] rests upon you"

If living for Jesus brings ridicule, it will also bring blessing.

God is closer to you in your suffering than he appears.

The promises of God sustain us in our suffering.

1 Peter 4:15-16

"15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!"

We cannot leverage our identity as a Christian into an allowance for sin.

Hiding who we are doesn't make us any less us, it just stifles our spiritual gifts.

1 Peter 4:17-18

"17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 

18 And also, "If the righteous are barely saved,

    what will happen to godless sinners?”

How do we respond to God's Good News?

For the followers of Jesus, our greatest suffering is done here on earth.

For those who deny Jesus here on earth, their greatest suffering will come in eternity.

1 Peter 4:19

"19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you"

God is still in control through your suffering.

How you suffer and who you suffer with makes all the difference in the outcome.

How much suffering would it take for you to turn away from God?

If you are suffering, remember these promises:

God will bless you.

God is close to you.

You will see his glory through it.

Your suffering is temporary.

The mirror test.

• What is God teaching you in your suffering?