Share in his sufferings
Peter on suffering with Christ
Peter gives suffering an astonishing frame: rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. The suffering of doing right is not merely to be endured; it is, in some sense, a participation in Christ's own sufferings — and therefore a cause for joy. To suffer for the good is to be in the best of company.
This transforms the meaning of hardship in a leader's life. The opposition, the cost, the wounds taken for doing what is right are not random misfortune; they are a sharing in what Christ himself bore. The apostles, beaten by the Sanhedrin, left rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. There is a strange dignity, even gladness, available in suffering for the right reasons — the knowledge that this particular pain joins you to Christ.
“Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.”
— The apostles, rejoicing to suffer — Acts 5:41 (WEB)
Suffering for doing right is a participation in Christ’s own sufferings, and therefore a strange cause for joy. To suffer for the good is to be in the best of company.
“But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.”
Peter reframes the cost of righteousness as sharing in Christ’s sufferings. A leader formed here finds dignity, even gladness, in suffering for the right reasons. The inner work is seeing his wounds as joining him to Christ, not just as loss.
Frame the cost of doing right as a sharing in Christ’s sufferings, for yourself and your team. Help people rejoice that they are counted worthy to bear it. Treat righteous suffering as honor, not random misfortune.
Leaders experience the cost of doing right only as loss and grievance. The blind spot is missing the dignity and joy of sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
Name a cost you are bearing for doing right. This week, deliberately count it as a sharing in Christ’s sufferings rather than only loss.
The opposition and wounds taken for doing right are not random misfortune; they are a sharing in what Christ himself bore — and therefore, strangely, a cause for joy.
Can you see the cost you bear for doing right as a sharing in Christ's sufferings, rather than only as loss?