Why Suffer?

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 

1 Peter 4:1-2 NIV

What do you live for? What's your attitude? I worked with a guy who lived to fish. His attitude was "work hard, play hard". Even though fishing was definitely more meaningful to him them work, his attitude made him a good person to work with. 

As Christians, aliens in this world, our attitude, based upon what we know is true about God and his will for us and this world, our attitude can help us deal with the temptations, trials and sufferings we will encounter. 

Christ suffered for the joy that was set before him (Hebrews 12:2). We are not told that he enjoyed the suffering.  The joy was knowing that we would become children of God, the sheep of his pasture. As Christian we will at times endure suffering. That means pain. That means you would rather not. That means God has counted you worthy to share in his sufferings. Paul, at his conversion, was told how much he would suffer for Christ's Name (Acts 9:16). He wasn't told he would write a huge portion of the New Testament. He wasn't told he would be one of the central figures in early church history. He was told he would suffer. 

The deal is this: suffering gets our eyes off of earthly desires. Maybe it's because when we are truly suffering we wish to be rid of these bodies and their pain. In some way God uses that pain to focus our attention off ourselves and he brings our focus around to realizing that we must live for the will of God. It's not the pain of the moment, it's the promise that gives up hope, courage and strength.