Suffering Succotash

1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

As a child on Saturday mornings, I would get up and turn on the TV and tune to one of 7 channels (just aged myself!) to find my favorite morning cartoon shows. One of which was Looney Tunes featuring Bugs Bunny, Sylvester and Tweety Bird, the Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote, and Foghorn Leghorn to name a few.

Many catch phrases came out of those Saturday morning shows. One was from the scheming cat named Sylvester. This cat spoke with a slobbery lisp and was always devising ways to get to Tweety Bird to make himself a meal. Sylvester was always trying, and he always failed. And when things would turn bad for him, he would exclaim in his fervent lisping tongue, "Suffering succotash!"

Why is it, that whenever something happens to us like suffering, we tend to treat it as a great big surprise? After all, didn't Jesus tell us that our lives as Christ followers would bring all sorts of trouble to us? Things like persecution, hatred, mockery, and suffering for standing in faith in the name of Jesus.

Yet, we often act like Henny Penny and the sky is falling when we fall into various trials. There is no counting of it in joy. There is no rejoicing in our suffering, as much as the bible says we ought to (James 1:2-8). Instead, we go around trying to figure out why this or that is happening to us. We may even get angry with God and perhaps, just perhaps, even blame Him for our woes.

It seems so counterintuitive to try and walk through the storm with rejoicing in our hearts. But it is something we must consider, because of who we are in Christ. And more than that - because of the suffering Christ went through on our behalf.

If we truly put everything in proper perspective and look to the suffering of Christ, we might, just might, find some solace, peace and consolation in our own trials, knowing that He went farther and deeper in His suffering for our sake than we can ever imagine.

Yeah, life's tough, and sometimes too much to handle. Nothing ever would make Satan happier than to see one God's own give up hope and lose their joy and fall into the total abyss of unbelief.

But then again, nothing would make God happier than to see His child stand firm in faith, and endure the suffering. For it is only for a short while - and as Peter reminds us...

"but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." - 1 Peter 4:13