Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Pet 4:19)
Amazing verse, because in suffering we tend to think poorly of God, and wallow in self pity, thinking we had it the worst.
A. Suffering wasn't God's mistake.
B. Suffering doesn't prove God is unfaithful and uncaring.
C. Suffering doesn't give you an excuse to despair and stop the exercise of your gifts and service.
I think the last statement is the most surprising. Peter says that good works is still expected of us during suffering! People-centeredness and other-directedness is still demanded. That is very contrary to how we normally feel when suffering, as we tend to be very self-centered - grumbling, complaining, getting attention about our own suffering. Yet this limits our ability to serve others, in fact, suffering must bring the opposite - if anything it gives us better ability to serve as our faith is strengthened.
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