"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as thought something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. If one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name the him glorify God."
- 1 Peter 4:12-14, 17
I have heard that phrase "share in Christ's suffering" quite often but never really took the time to think about what it meant. Suffering it truly wonderful. Think of a rock tumbler; rough rocks are put in and are then smashed and rubbed against each other repeatedly. The process can take a few weeks but once it is finished the rocks which were once hard, rough and ugly are now polished and revealed as the gems that they are.
Similarly with suffering, we may feel beaten down and bashed around but what is really happening is a purification. Ugly parts are breaking off, rubbing away and we are being refined. Suffering can reveal to us who we truly are.If suffering was purposeless then Christ would not have used it as the tool for our redemption. He who is Purity itself, He who cannot be purified, underwent awful trials not for His benefit but for the sake of a world so desperately in need of purity. Offering our sufferings up to Christ is just a little way to say "You suffered for me, I'll suffer for You." Speak to Him. Admit to Him that the task you are faced with is unpleasant but resolve to face it bravely and cheerfully and so offer it up to Him. Suffering redeemed us, suffering refines us, so rejoice!
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