But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 

1 Peter 4:13 

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ.  I see two things that appear to be diametrically opposed here, joy and suffering. Is this possible – joy and suffering in one life, at one time?  I tend to think that joy is impossible where there is suffering and that when I suffer my joy is gone.  Obviously, Peter knew profound joy and painful suffering.  His life is a glowing example of both.  So how is it, do we have two ways to live?  Now I suffer.  Now I have joy.  That is one way of looking at it.

The Spirit of God has us look at Jesus, a person who knew joy and suffering.  Yes, even on the Cross where suffering should have wiped out all joy, Jesus carries in himself the joy of opening the way for all who believe to embrace God.  That joy and the suffering he was enduring set the pattern for me, for all believers.  Peter as an Apostle of Jesus Christ rejoiced and suffered at the same time!  Is this not my calling?  When I suffer I tend to get glum.  Not Jesus, and not Peter.  They somehow blended the two as though they were friends instead of enemies!

Life offers us the opportunity to choose to be joyful or resentful. I need to keep in mind that the day will come when the glory of Jesus Christ, including his sufferings, will be as clear as crystal – revealed!  He wears a crown of thorns, so to speak, and a halo of joy.