The Lord has made no secret of the fact that His people will suffer while they live here in time, but neither has He left them without comfort. It is certain that they will have tribulation in this world, but it is equally certain that Christ has overcome the world, and that even amidst their troubles and trials there is reason for them to be of good cheer. We are informed that the afflictions of the righteous are many, but at the same time we are assured that if we are among that happy number the Lord will deliver us out of them all (See Psalm 34:19). Now, while we are confined to these tabernacles of clay (these mortal bodies), we often groan, being burdened, but we are also looking forward to the day when we will be "clothed upon" with a glorified body, that mortality may be swallowed up of life (See II Cor. 5:4) 

    Notice that when the Lord informs us of a difficulty that lies ahead of us, He also gives us a word of cheer and encouragement. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings," etc. (I Peter 4:12-13). It is a principle that we may confidently rest in, that "as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ" (II Cor. 1:5). And one of the fringe benefits God's people reap from their sufferings for Christ's sake is that they learn to comfort others who are in similar troubles with the same comforts that they have received from God. 

    The children of God may sometimes wonder why their afflictions and tribulations are as severe as they are, but God is all-wise and he knows what is best for them. We may not always know why things are with us as they are, but He can see a "need be" that we sometimes endure heaviness for a season (See I Peter 1:17). If things were always easy and smooth for us our faith would never be tried or tested, and if our faith was never tried it would never bring the praise, honor and glory to God that it would otherwise. May we learn, therefore, to glory in our trials, knowing that we will be better persons for having experience them.