To assume that followers of Jesus Christ will somehow get a pass on suffering is nothing

more than fanciful.

Throughout Scripture, we're duly warned that pain and disappointment is an unavoidable

part of our journey.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall presents another message in the Hope Again

series.

He's teaching from 1 Peter 4, where the Apostle offers encouragement to those who suffer.

So are you going through a rough patch right now?

Whether it's an illness or a troubled relationship, this message is for you.

According to Chuck, there's hope beyond our trials.

During under trials is the major theme of Peter's first letter to Christians.

They happen to be Christians scattered abroad who faced desperate circumstances.

And those circumstances were undeserved, they were unfair, and usually they were unexpected.

Unpredictable.

Occasionally, trials are slight and brief and quickly forgotten.

At other times, however, those trials linger and they lean hard upon us, leaving us exhausted

and sometimes dispirited.

Occasionally, they even put us out of commission.

Let's face it.

These more difficult trials are the kind Peter refers to when he writes about the fiery

ordeal.

That's a phrase that appears in the fourth chapter of his first letter.

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