Sign Up Today and Receive.........

• If you are a member of AAA you get hotel and car rental discounts, oh, lets not forget the FREE maps.
• If you use certain credit cards, you get discounts or bonus miles for free travel.
• There are certain perks associated with working for large corporations, free game tickets, meal and parking discounts.
• If you are a clerk at JC Penney an employee discount on clothing

Many people think there are comparable "exclusive membership benefits" if they associate with God. They think there is some providential protection that surrounds everyone who believes in Him They believe a guardian angel guarantee will protect them from trouble, tragedy, and turmoil. Whatever you join, it pays to read the fine print especially in the celestial contract.
The fact that God does not insulate those He loves from pain and suffering should be evident. Let's take for example, Jesus. I think it's safe to say that Jesus had a very close relationship with God and God allowed Jesus to suffer. You might recall Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of Christ, in which you see the horrible way in which Jesus is treated.
But Jesus wasn't alone in His suffering. According to the bible many followers of God endured many hardships including torture and death. The book of Hebrews highlights many of the triumphs and tragedies of OT saints. We are told that by faith Abraham, Moses & Rahab prevail in some circumstances, while others:

were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:35-38)

• Stephen and Matthew were martyred.
• John the Baptist was beheaded.
• Peter and Simeon were crucified.
• Mark was dragged to death.

All these men and women loved God. But if you were God's P.R. agent, these are not the stories you would put in a recruiting brochure. Their treatment runs contrary to our notion that God shelters those He loves from harm. Well, the text show us notion is flat out wrong. Our tendency is sugar coat our concepts of God with thoughts of love and peace and blessings. Don't get me wrong, God is about all those things, but that is a one dimensional understanding of His nature. If we don't expand our understanding, we'll never come to the realization that God considers trouble, pain, and suffering a blessing. Consider this:

• Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5) 
• My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

God doesn't want us to rejoice in suffering simply because He has a perverse sense of humor. He wants us to realize that our struggles drive us closer to Him. Difficulties are a necessary component as we strengthen our faith muscle. Trouble cause us to seek God, because we might otherwise tend to ignore Him in tranquil circumstances. They impress upon us our need for God. They expose our lack of self-sufficiency, and we become convinced of our dependency on Him.

Remember:

• Easy times may make you spiritually indifferent, but tough times make you spiritually dependent.
• Satan wants your life to be easy, but God loves you too much to allow that to happen.
• Loving God doesn't exempt you from troubles, but it does ensure that you can find meaning and purpose in them.
• God comforts us in our tribulation, and we, having gone trough the situation are able to comfort others with that same comfort we received from God.
• Last but not least, remember, there is no testimony without a test.