What Difference Does It Make? He Lives to Give Me Joy in Suffering - May 17, 2026

1 Peter 4:12-17, 5:6-11What does suffering for Christ say about you? It may feel like proof that something has gone wrong—that Christianity does not work, that God has forgotten you, or that following Jesus is not worth the cost. Peter teaches us to read suffering differently. Suffering for Christ connects us to Christ. And because Jesus lives, his story is ours: first the cross, then the crown; first suffering, then glory.The risen Savior gives meaning to our suffering, invites us to cast every anxiety on him, and promises that the God of all grace will restore, strengthen, and keep us steadfast.