1. Christians will suffer: You may know that the Bible makes it clear that Christians will suffer. Some preachers have the idea that teaching this fact will drive away new believers. Note that when Paul traveled throughout Asia Minor, he told the new believers, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22). He was realistically preparing them for the future as well as explaining their present situation. We should prepare for the same.
2. God allows suffering: Since we have been told that Christians will suffer, we should be prepared to accept it as the will of God. Peter makes this very plain in 1 Peter 2:19, " For it is commandable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God."
Also 1 Peter 3:17 tells us, "It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." Then he sums up the matter in 1 Peter 4:19, "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."
Paul showed us an example of this when he prayed three times for the removal of his "thorn in the flesh." Then he saw that it was God's will for him, and he accepted it (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
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