Suffering for Christ's Sake: it's not in Vain

Sometimes when I experience hardships, pain, sadness and struggles, I find myself asking God, "Why?". Of course this is a silly question to ask  an all-knowing God, because He knows what He's doing. He knows the end from the beginning, and He wants only the best for us.  

Here are some encouraging passages that prove without a doubt that everything you do for the Lord will not go in vain. We should rejoice in our sufferings. 

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be you steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 

~1 Corinthians 15:58

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." 

~Matthew 5:4

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ." 

~2 Corinthians 1:5

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." 

~1 Peter 4:19

"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." 

~1 Peter 3:17

And my favorite!:

"You have said, ‘ It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,

      And that we have walked as mourners

      Before the LORD of hosts?

        So now we call the proud blessed,

      For those who do wickedness are raised up;

      They even tempt God and go free.’” 

     Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him 

      For those who fear the LORD 

      And who meditate on His name.

        “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts,

      “On the day that I make them My jewels.

      And I will spare them 

      As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

        Then you shall again discern

      Between the righteous and the wicked,

      Between one who serves God

      And one who does not serve Him."

~Malachi 3:14-18