Enduring, Growing, Rejoicing...in Suffering

Curious the meat that God is offering this week as I continue in I Peter 3. Today's verse is: "17For if it is the will of God that you suffer, then it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong. 18Because the Liberating King suffered for sins once for all time—the righteous suffering for the unrighteous—so that He might bring us to God. Though He died in the flesh, He was made alive again through the Spirit. 19And in the Spirit He went and preached to those spirits held captive."
Nelson, Thomas (2008-10-28). The Voice: New Testament (with book and chapter navigation) (Kindle Locations 13847-13850). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Not only do I think of my own "suffering" as I bid farewell to my mother and our children and grandchildren, I also reflect on the suffering they will inevitably experience in Nicaragua. I am confident in the blessings, present and future, but I also know that they must do battle with personal discomfort in a climate and culture that is foreign to their experiences as well as the expectations (OH, that those around them will come to know the differences between HOPE and expectations) of those they serve and those responsible for oversight.

There are so many messages in these few verses.

• Suffering is  not something to be avoided; rather when we are pursuing God's will, following the model of our brother Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and choose to embrace suffering we can anticipate it and therefore be prepared to endure.
• Suffering does prepare us for what is to come. Though there is no direct reference, I cannot help but recall as I read this passage, that God never asks of us more than we can endure at the moment. Consequently, the suffering of today will successfully prepare me for what is in store tomorrow.
• Suffering experienced with our eyes fixed on God is less damaging, less painful, less fearsome than suffering endured when we are focused on our own self-will.
• And finally the promise...oh the richness of the promise in verse 19 "And in the Spirit He went and preached to those held captive."

In the commentary, the author writes: "Just because God calls us to suffer does not mean He is immune to it. At the cross, Jesus entered into our suffering. Now we enter into His."
Nelson, Thomas (2008-10-28). The Voice: New Testament (with book and chapter navigation) (Kindle Locations 13863-13864). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

I've created a personal prayer journal to record the current focus how God appears to be directing my prayers and to enable a linking to answered prayer. The initial posting of my prayer journal can be found at LINK.