Rejoice in my suffering....What???

Do you ever feel like you are the only one walking down the straight and narrow, and it seems like no one else is around? Do you ever feel like your the only Christian around and you always get made fun of for your faith? Are you ashamed to admit you are a Christian because you don't want to be a "social outcast". Well take a look at this!!

1 Peter 4:12-19

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"[a]
19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

First of all we can't be shocked if we are made fun of or are persecuted just for being Christians. But we are supposed to rejoice in these times of suffering because Christ was suffered in the same way. Why does this seem so hard to do? Who wants to praise God while they are being put to death for believing in Him. Now I know in America it isn't everyday that Christians are killed for there faith, but it does happen. I know I probably wouldn't want to praise God if I am being put to death for believing in Him. Would you?

This passage also says that you are blessed if you are insulted for believing in Christ. How in the world is that a blessing? Look at what it says in Matthew 5:11-12 about this :

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Shouldn't this change the way we feel after we get made fun of for something like this. Like it doesn't matter our reward will be great in heaven.

And when we are being made fun of for being a Christian we should not be ashamed and have our heads down. We need to keep them up and praise God that we follow Him. We need to continue to pursue after Christ no matter what the world says or does to us. Just wanted to challenge you guys with that today.