Though a lovely sounding word it is something so profound yet disturbing, enlightening yet dark, that we would rather not welcome the 2 contrasting elements in our life. We would have one or the other but surely not both. What am I talking about?
“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” (2 Corinthians 4 v 10-12)
- If you want the life of Jesus to be experienced and seen in you then it is crucial that you experience pain and suffering.
- If we truly come to the cross in full surrender then what we are doing is welcoming the death of Jesus not as something that took place but that is actually happening spiritually in our lives.
- If we want to know life then we need to allow the suffering to shape us into His image, so that others see Christ and His work in us.
- The impact on others from our own suffering is incalculable. You are far more effective as a broken vessel than a perfect one.
- Victorious living is not to live without suffering. It is to see how others benefit from the life of Christ that flows through our suffering.
- Praying to be free from our difficulties may end up being a desire to be free from the place where the life of Christ becomes most evident.
- All this isn’t some form of spiritual masochism but rather it is to follow the strategy of Christ and to create the space for His power to flow through us.
Missions Paul 
I really appreciate how you highlight the deep connection between sharing in Christ’s death and His life. It makes me wonder too—how might we also hold onto the hope and renewal Colossians 3 describes, even as we endure suffering? I’m encouraged by the way you point us back to Christ.
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