In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

(1 Peter 1:6-7)

In my mind, this is saying that my trials give me a payoff that is worth more than gold.  My faith is priceless, everything else has little value.  I can understand the logic behind this and I can understand the Truth behind this..... but.... I sometimes have trouble remaining strong and faithful during trials and suffering.  My faith certainly has chinks in its armor, so many holes that sometimes I fear that the devil may get the best of me.  I have to keep my focus Above, to the powerful God that gives me the courage and strength to face any opponent.  Thank you, God! 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
(Romans 5:3-5)

I'm sure I've posted this scripture before, as it's one of my favorites.  I quoted it today to offer hope to a friend.  It can be so tough to suffer through any kind of trial, from illness to persecution and everything in between, but we always have hope in the Lord and know that He will love and support us through anything.  In spite of these difficulties, we learn from them, like it or not, and it will someday, in some way, improve our lives.  He gives us hope of a better tomorrow.... a new day.... a new beginning.

My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
(Psalm 119:50)

These words stand out for me today after a rough night.  I knew that I wasn't alone though..... the Lord was there to comfort me.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
(1 Peter 5:10)

This scripture was featured in a daily devotion today and brought me such hope.  It's so comforting for me to read this scripture and absorb the healing power that I receive from these words given to me by God.  Bottom line......suffering is temporary....... eternity is forever!

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)

One of the reasons God lets us suffer in life is so we can understand the suffering of others and be able to comfort them--to do unto them what we would want others to do unto us. Paul lays out the progression of comfort in suffering by saying that God comforts us when we are hurting so we can comfort others with the same comfort by which we were comforted (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When we suffer, we should receive the comfort of God and remember it so we can replicate that comfort for another. We don't have to pray for suffering--it will find us easily enough. But we should pray for a spiritually-empathetic heart to feel the anguish of others and be prepared to comfort them as we ourselves would want to be comforted.

(Copied from today's Turning Point with David Jeremiah)