We often try to avoid the painful trials in life. After all, we would prefer to live our Christian lives from victorious moment to victorious moment. But the apostle Peter has challenged us to look at our trials differently: ''Instead, be very glad-for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world'' (1 Peter 4:13, NLT). As we embrace our partnership in Christ's suffering and fully surrender our lives to His purposes, this wonderful joy in Christ is ours!