Suffering (4:13)* Peter next indicates more clearly how it is that suffering is not something strange and alien to the Christian life but rather an occasion for rejoicing. The basis for his argument is the statement that, when Christians suffer as Christians, they are participating in the sufferings of Christ. And he implicitly concludes that they will also share in his future glory when it is revealed. The practical application is that because of this they should now rejoice in their sufferings.