God has called us to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who endured unjust suffering while always doing good. Emulating Him means that suffering is often inevitable due to the world's opposition to godly ways. We must adopt the attitude of Christ, who was determined to fulfill the Father's will, even when it led to suffering rather than self-preservation. If doing His will results in suffering, we share in the fellowship of Christ's suffering. Suffering also relates to sin, as our sins and those of others cause pain in our lives and around us. Yet, approaching suffering with faith—belief, trust in God, and obedience—can lead to a good outcome. Suffering reveals where God's law of love has been broken, serving as a powerful teaching tool to deepen our understanding of how He desires us to live. Even when suffering seems undeserved or unrelated to our actions, committing ourselves to Him who judges righteously allows us to trust that it will accomplish good, whether by teaching us aspects of God's way, helping us identify with our Savior, sympathizing with others, testing our trust, or keeping us humble. Approaching suffering with faith assures us that God will not allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear. He either strengthens us to endure or provides a way of escape. Beyond the immediate moment, a long-range perspective reminds us that suffering is temporary, and what God has prepared for us in the resurrection far surpasses our current trials. Our momentary afflictions are preparing an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison, as we focus on the unseen, eternal promises of God rather than the transient struggles we face.

When we partake of the Passover cup, symbolic of the blood of Jesus Christ, we agree to share in all consequences of the New Covenant, including both blessings and suffering. Drinking from this cup means accepting everything that results from unity with Him, not just the glory but also the pain. Jesus Christ Himself questioned if James and John could drink the cup He was to drink, implying that reigning with Him in glory requires sharing in His entire experience, which includes suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed for the cup to pass from Him, yet accepted the suffering it entailed as part of fulfilling the covenant. Suffering is an inevitable part of our union with Christ, just as it was in His life. We often desire the crown of honor and white robes of glory, but shy away from the crown of thorns and scarlet robe of mockery He endured. The sequence is clear: suffering precedes glory, and we cannot attain the latter without enduring the former. Jesus Christ, as the ultimate example, suffered before entering into His glory, and we are called to suffer with Him to be glorified together. He encourages us not to fear the suffering we are about to face, promising the crown of life to those who remain faithful through it. Throughout history, being chosen by God has meant enduring suffering, as seen in the lives of the heroes of faith, apostles, and prophets, for glory follows only after we have gone through darkness.

The concept of glory, intertwined with suffering, reveals a profound hope for God's people. We are assured as joint heirs with Christ that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. Glory, a term beyond full human comprehension, signifies God's magnificence and the dazzling splendor of His throne, which we long to share as part of His Family. It embodies worth, acceptance, brightness, and beauty—attributes we yearn to participate in, to be within this divine holiness rather than outside it. Originally, mankind possessed a form of glory as Adam and Eve were made in God's image, enjoying His approval and presence in the Garden of Eden. Their sin, however, led to a departure of this glory, bringing decay, suffering, and death, tarnishing the beauty of heart and mind they once held. Yet, through Christ, salvation offers not just restoration but a glorification surpassing what was lost, promising an enjoyment and participation in God that exceeds the original state. In comparing present sufferings to future glory, the intensity of our trials pales against the weight of the glory to come. Suffering affects only our outward being, while glory will be revealed internally, transforming our very essence. Moreover, while our sufferings are momentary, confined to this present age, the glory awaiting us is eternal, belonging to the age to come. This perspective shifts our view of life, encouraging endurance through hardships and a vision of life in its eternal context, knowing that the weight of future glory far outweighs current pain. Suffering, experienced in our bodies, often causes groaning, yet as believers, this groaning is expectant, akin to childbirth pangs, filled with hope for a joyful outcome. We groan in hope, aware that these frail bodies will be transformed into glorious, sinless ones, like Christ's resurrected body. This hope is certain, grounded in God's promises of redemption, adoption as His children, and the gathering of His harvest. Thus, even as we suffer, we wait eagerly and patiently, actively serving Christ, confident that sharing in His sufferings ensures we will also share in His glory.