Will I make it through life without suffering?

I went to a funeral this week and everyone had something to say positive about the person that died. The coolest thing was at the end of the service the pastor of the church got up and said everyone talks so nice about this person. They have nothing but good things to say but I have to say something that people don’t want to hear. He said, “This man suffered really well!  He was in a lot of pain and we all hated seeing it but this man showed us how to deal with it.  On the outside he was dying but on the inside he was growing.”

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  1 Peter 4:12 (NIV)

We will all suffer but the key is how will we handle it?  I remember my mother dying with cancer. When she was told she had stage 4 cancer she said she was ready to be with the Lord.  A little over a year later as I held her hand and prayed for her she really showed me how to handle physical suffering.  She told everyone about God during this time and didn’t waver from her belief.

The suffering that is talked about in 1 Peter is suffering for being a Christian.  The suffering I am talking about here is physical.  Some suffering is physical, some is from the sin in your life, and some is for standing up for your faith.

Are you preparing to be a good sufferer?  Do you avoid thinking about it?  Should you think about what you would do if you have to suffer from either your own sin or stuff that you just have to do?