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But to the degree you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

1 Peter 4:13, LSB

“Rejoice in Suffering” is a combination of words that I don’t think of as things that should go together. Yet, here we have Peter writing this in his epistle to the Church. We all know suffering. It is something that none of us can fully avoid. Our Lord desires for us to see His face in our times of struggle and know His suffering for us. In this, we can rejoice always because the suffering we know is only temporary, but in our Lord, we can eternally rejoice. Let us celebrate Him now and at all times as our Savior and King. He is the Redeemer who has brought us into the glory, and we will celebrate with Him in the Eternal Kingdom. It is in this knowledge that we can walk in our pain. We can celebrate the faith of a brother or sister who has entered into the glory of our Lord as we mourn his or her death. In the greatest heartache, we can be comforted and know the peace and joy that comes through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Celebrate His gift for us all and revel in His peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.