Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17 NIV

29 Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the Gospel,30 Who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 AMP

Prior to this path, I ignored teaching on the suffering of Christ [in order to share in His glory]. As a child of Catholicism, I had heard of flagellations and mortification of the body, as saintly deeds of the past but saw these as the acts of zealots. However, within most archaic customs are kernels of truth.

Recently, I underwent a medical procedure where I awakened stiff but with little discomfort. I had a morphine drip attached via I.V. that had a handheld apparatus which allowed me to administer pain medication when I needed it. This apparatus, although cold and plastic, was to me a cuddly Teddy Bear, there to comfort me. My hospital room seemed like a North American Bed & Breakfast, a plush getaway with friendly service and On Demand movies. That is until the Big Bad Wolf appeared (Anesthesiologist) who replaced my Teddy Bear with oral tablets at which time I realized I WAS IN PAIN. My point? The contented life I was experiencing was an illusion. The reality of pain clarified the situation. My body had suffered trauma and was in healing mode. Now I recognized the need to get moving, take hold of my healing, and get the heck out of there! For me, this “suffering” was an escort. My “going through” propelled me toward the path of wellness and freedom!
The Walk of the Bride in the Kingdom of God is not smooth sailing on a placid lake. Our flesh will reject chastity for temporary lusts, our minds will rehearse past shame and rejection as reasons not to move forward in God’s best.

The old Gospel hymn, No Cross, No Crown has a key verse that states:
Must Jesus bear the cross alone, and the whole world go free?