Blessed suffering

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, neither be troubled." - 1 Peter 3v13-14

We all love it when things are going well. We equate loving life and good days with worldly success and lack of trouble. We think that God is ‘really blessing’ life is easy and smooth. That phrase almost rolls off our lips without thought when something really good happens in our lives and ministries.

But how often do we hear “God is really blessing’ when we are suffering? How often do Christians thank God for His blessings when everything is going against them? God is blessing when we fit into society and life is easy, but is He really blessing when our culture becomes ungodly and we suffer for doing what is right?

My thoughts are drawn to the situation in America. Twenty-five years ago everything was going our way. We had a president who stood for what was right. He sought and took counsel from born again believers. The Moral Majority was a major player in society. Everything was going our way. A truly Christian America was just around the corner.

Now things are different. Conservative Christianity no longer has a friend in the White House. Freedoms are being eroded. Ungodliness is not only allowed but advocated. Christians are seeing their most privileged status eroded.

So, was God blessing American Christians then, but not now? Has God withdrawn His blessings?

According the Peter God’s blessing is not measured by our circumstances. We are blessed when we suffer for doing right. To my human mind that makes absolutely no sense. How can God be blessing when everything is going wrong?

I don’t get it, but that doesn’t mean its not true. There is blessing in suffering for doing right – I just need to see it.