In suffering...be joyful!

I know, I know, you're probably thinking, "Huh? Are we supposed to go and do a happy dance because we're struggling big time?" In the first epistle of Peter, he talks about suffering a lot. And usually follows those thoughts with, "when this happens, be very glad."
In the first chapter, Peter is clearly addressing those who have decided to follow Christ. "I am writing to God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the lands of Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by His blood." (1 Peter 1:1-2) Even though Peter doesn't go into detail about what is going on, it can be inferred that the believers were going through difficult times. Peter encourages them by reminding them about what lies ahead:

For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for His children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay...So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. (1:4, 6-7)

And Peter also reminds the believers to love each other. It goes along with Paul's teachings about the believers making up the body of Christ.  Peter writes, "Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts." (1:22) I'm glad to say that our church has much love for each of its members, which is why it's been a hard year...with 6 church members and many relatives of church members dying, plus serious illness, financial difficulties, job losses, etc., each of us has felt each other's difficulties as a blow. And this is partly why we have the church. When you go through a trying circumstance, it's not good to be alone. The body of Christ can absorb the blows better than one person.
In chapter 2, Peter states "This suffering is all part of what God has called you to." (21) Ouch! Sometimes we have to go through things because that is how God is bringing His plan to fruition. Peter reminds us of Christ's example. "He never sinned, and He never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally  carried away our sins in His own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by His wounds!" (2:22-24) There's a contradiction that just occurred to me: wounds that heal. Think about it: wounds are a sign of injury, not a sign of healing, and yet, Christ's wounds have healed us from the effects of sin. This is all a mysterious part of God's plan, some of which we'll never understand. But praise God! We don't have to understand it all. We just have to trust and obey Him.