Privileged to suffer

 BRP 1Pet 2:21

       I do not know about  you, but I have rarely thought, said or prayed “Thank you God for my suffering.” Yet, here Peter we were called to suffer, Christ gave us His example of how to suffer and exalt God at the same time. The commentary in my (NIV- Study Bible- fully revised by Zondervan- 1984) states that we should count it a privilege. Yowza, a privilege ?!?!?! That seems a big ask, doesn’t it? He wants us to “patiently endure as it is a part of God’s plan, Christ suffered for us- thusly we should instead of seeing and feeling it as misery, count it privilege” (NIV)

     I think one time in my life did I ever during my misery, exalt God. I wouldn’t have even realized I had done it except someone commented on it. I was in the ER with kidney stones, the first time, I was miserable and in a lot of pain. She commented something along the lines of “how I kept God in my mind and singing to Him through my pain.” I knew that in that moment I was doing things the right way, but I didn’t realize, as I have had to rely on GOD’S strength to get me through a lot already. Now, I know I have made many poor choices and not exalted God in all things, yet I do know He has made beauty out of my many messes. I have had trials that were not a punishment, but a chance to rely on God and grow ever closer to Him. There have been trials that had me frustrated and mad at God, and you know what I found out, GOD IS BIG ENOUGH, He handled my failings, He met me when I was done being a brat thinking it wasn’t fair, He was able to take my burden and remove it when I was no longer able to carry it. You see that is one of the many reasons I love God the Father. He meets us where we are, when we cry out to Him, we might not see it during the storm/trial, although we can feel Him, when the storm is over and we reflect on it we can see how God’s hand guided and protected up through it.

Here is some of the things I went through whether by choice or a God given trial:

Mental abuse

Sexual abuse, as a child by adult(s) -around people others knew were abusers.

Torture- as a child by peers

Spanked- for telling the truth

Several auto accidents, never my fault

Fear of STD/AIDS (I didn’t end up having either, but scary still)

Rebellion- ran way from home, drugs- marijana, drinking hard liquor, wine coolers all underage drinking. Smoking underage, sexually promiscuous underage- I felt it was all I was good for, adultery, 

Miscarriages 

Lack of motherhood 

Loss of potential adopted children, 3 days before I could legally fight for them.

House broken into

Loss of my dogs, one got out when the house was broke into, he got run over. Another 2 dog were ran over at different times several years apart. Another died from some strange mass in the back of her throat.  

Divorce

betrayal- my best friend dating my recent ex. I dated a guy who an acquaintance had dated.

Friends and family killed before their time- in my way of thinking 

And more but that is all I will put for now, the point is this, stuff happens. Our question is will we foolishly rely on our self  or will we trust God. Regardless of the storm, we have to choose who we will serve, who we will rely on. Only Trust Him only trust HIM!