SAD..........

I began my blogging week on Think Upon These Things by sharing a testimony of a spiritual and emotional "dark ages" in my life that began two years ago. I thought it would be fitting to revisit this topic by discussing another book that became very dear to me during this time: the book of 1 Peter.

1 Peter is a little book in the back of your Bible with a powerful message. It was written by Peter to a dispersed group of discouraged Christians. I read this book like I drank water: freqently, and sometimes several times a day. Several verses were very special to me, and I wanted to discuss them today.

There are two groups of people who could potentially read this post; 1) those who have suffered, and 2) those who will suffer. Those who have suffered can be furter divided into groups. 1) Those who know God is in control and knows the answers to all their questions about why they have to suffer, and 2) those who have no hope because they have not recognized God's control of their life.

Suffering is a hot topic today. Self-help books by the million deal with the topic of pain, suffering, and what to do about it. My dad knew almost nothing of what was going on, and even less of what I was dealing with in my life when he asked me to read a small book for him that he did not have time to read himself. It was called If I Were God, I'd End All the Pain. I don't remember what I thought about it, but I do remember that I thought the title was very assuming and proud.

I still think the title is wrong. Romans 11 asks the powerful question "Who has given to God that God should repay him?" To answer it, no one ever has or ever will. God is God, and we just have to accept that.

1 Peter, though it's major theme is suffering, has many jewel-rank passages that have seemingly nothing to do with suffering. There is an excellent exaltation of the word of God at the end of the last chapter. Also, read this verse.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead........