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None of us are immune from suffering.

In fact, there are seasons of life when we wonder when the misery is going to let up.

Maybe you're in one of those low places right now.

Well, today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall offers biblical wisdom on how to handle the inevitable seasons of grief and sorrow.

We've been steadily making progress through the book of First Peter, and today and tomorrow we'll hear the final message in this 17-part series called Hope Again.

Chuck titled this final message, Hope Beyond Misery, Lasting Lessons.

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There is a proverb written by Solomon that says, desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.

I often think of that proverb when I come to the end of a project around the house.

And sometimes, Cynthia and I will quote that proverb to one another or one of us to the other when we know that a lengthy process has occurred that has required a good deal of labor and effort to energy.

And we finally bring it to completion.

There is a sense of sweetness that comes over the soul.

It may be something as practical and simple as getting all the windows washed or getting the garage finally cleaned out for the fourth time that year, or getting one of the rooms completely done or getting the upstairs of our place like we have wanted it for a long time, or maybe one of the cars all finished.

There is a sense of desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.

And that comes to my mind when we come to the end of a book or a letter that we have been studying.

There is a sense of sweetness as we come to a final study in this case, the letter of first Peter.

Perhaps as much as anything, I found myself encouraged by the fact that Peter gets us beyond the misery part of a suffering.

You have noticed haven't you how we all throw pity parties for ourselves when suffering comes.

And it's almost as though we we capitalize on the downside rather than focus on the benefits that come from the hard times.

As I've said so many times and I keep learning, the growth occurs when it's hard, not when it's easy.

We get beyond the misery stage then we find that there is a magnificent lesson or series of lessons to be learned.

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