Knowing Christ's Suffering

When the believer suffers on account of Christ his capacity to fellowship with and know the Lord increases. This is why Paul states that he longs to “fellowship with the Lord's sufferings.” See, it is not that suffering is good in and of itself or that Paul just liked pain. Rather, it is that during times of stress and hardship our heart is weaned from this world. And thus, whatever worldly thoughts, desires, or passions which might compete with Christ are gone.