Suffering for Good

I was studying the following passage in 1 Peter, chapter 3:

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! (v. 13-17)

While most people don't seek to harm those who do good, there are those who will and do. Often our churches are filled with people trying to do good, and yet, causing pain and suffering to others in the process. I have been most hurt personally by people who have professed to be a Christ follower. 

Just because people hurt you, attack you, slander you, or even lie about you- it doesn't automatically mean that you are doing something wrong. Sometimes our suffering happens because hurting people hurt people. This is why I pursued my degree in biblical counseling. I have been hurt by people, people that should have loved me unconditionally but instead chose the path of destruction. My education became the healing process through which I can let go of the fear of their continued threats, and be gentle and respectful in protecting my family from them. 

Sometimes, we will suffer for doing what is right. Jesus did. He suffered, he was wrongfully accused and had to face the unjust punishment for the sins of the world, yet he remained sinless. Many of the apostles that went before us, died the death of a martyr not because they were doing wrong, but because they were doing right. Never just assume that someone suffering did something to deserve it. 

This is not to say that we don't ever suffer because of our own consequences. You get caught driving too fast and get a speeding ticket, that financial hardship was the natural consequence for not following the law. 

In this case, I am talking about the deep Joseph-like wounds that were inflicted by others. Joseph didn't jump into a pit, he was thrown in. His brother’s jealousy resulted in him being sold into slavery. That was wrong. Then he was falsely accused of raping his boss’s wife. That was wrong. He spent 13 years as a slave or prisoner before he received any sort of justice. And I would even argue, he suffered his entire life. He never got to go home. 

Joseph did the right thing and suffered for it. Hopefully, his brothers and Potiphar’s wife had a revelation at some point that what they did was wrong, but it doesn't actually matter much for Joseph and his lot in life. He has a choice. He chose to depend on God, to lean in and worship Him as the Lord of his life and trust that all things will work out for his good. 

That is our choice still today. When we suffer, will we lean into God, trust the process, remain upright and honest? Or will we give up and give in. Let them be ashamed when they see the fruit in your life, how you conduct yourself, how you remain steadfast in the face of trouble... and trust that the Lord will right the wrongs. Vengeance is His after all, we don't need to worry about it.