Suffering in Christ

2 Cor. 1:3-5 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Suffering, it hurts. It isn’t pleasant. But it isn’t necessarily bad. It may be God working in and through you. It is puzzling that the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort would work in and through suffering. But in our sufferings he comforts us, his children. We have a hope, and we have comfort in Jesus Christ. Our suffering isn’t necessarily God’s punishment on us for something we have done. Suffering is part of this world. It happens to Christians and non-Christians alike. It happens to the good and bad. But Christians suffer in Christ, and with Christ. And in Christ and with Christ we are comforted in the hope of his resurrection. You are not less of a Christian for suffering. Paul suffered, Peter suffered, most of all Christ suffered. When we suffer we are in good company, we are in the company of Christ who comforts us. We learn to endure the suffering by the comfort that God offers us. Knowing our sins are forgiven, and that we have salvation in Him. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. Our suffering could just bring us closer to God, and be used to strengthen our faith.