Do you ever feel picked on by God when you are going through a time of suffering? Do you think that you must have done something wrong or that God is grinding out of you some major character flaw? Do you feel that you are somehow out of favor? Believe me; none of those things are true.

The truth is that we are called into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. Paul says in Philippians 3:10; “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” And why are we called to this? For the same reason Jesus was. Jesus is the captain of our salvation “made perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10b)

Jesus did not have any sin to be made perfect from but his suffering fitted him perfectly for his role as our Savior. Our suffering can fit us for our role too. Suffering does something to us that nothing else can do. I wish it weren’t true but it is true. Those who have suffered greatly usually run deep and compassion marks them.

God has called each of us to a divine destiny. Suffering crowns that call and equips us for its fulfillment. Rather than try to slip loose from any suffering in your life; embrace the opportunity it provides. If you lack anything, suffering will fill the gap.