Suffering (YouTube Short): "Can Suffering Deepen Understanding of Christ?"

Thanks for this Angelina. Suffering and especially persecution for Christ was one thing that weighed a lot on my mind since in my twenties. Somehow I knew that suffering was going to be involved. I even prayed and said God I don't want to suffer like these prophets have done. And I think that was a turning point, I chose not to suffer, explicitly!, (not that my life was without suffering, but I think the suffering was worse, it was the suffering of the damned, right?) and until I turned back to God I was lost! And I think that is why I only now found Rob in my fifties. And the reason why I knew from the beginning that Rob was a true messenger, was because of his persecution! Such a lot of preachers, and my mother will say, Oh, sussie, just listen to this woman, is she not godly? And I will look at her and see her prospering and huge following and popularity and making money like crazy and I'll know, there's no persecution, no this is not from God.

I read your post a few days ago, i watched the video of Rob you linked and that night i had a dream. I was driving in a car and there was a crane coming and I knew I was going to be in an ugly motorcar accident and somehow I knew my suffering was coming. And I just said in my dream "bring it on, I know I can do all things with Christ". I found it profound and who knows maybe prophetic? I know I should not make light of this and though I don't WANT to suffer, I do know that with Christ we can endure all things.

Hebrews 11 comes to mind right? 35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERANCE! That is so profound. Then who are we if we don't want to suffer but we want to be saved (ie want the same blessings as these people). I am ashamed sitting here in my comfort and ease. Oh the patience and mercy of God! And even while we're doing what He asks He blesses us immediately, immediately!

You know how the disciples didn't want to ask Jesus questions because they were afraid of what He was going to say (I think it was in case He asks something from them that they were afraid that they won't be able to do and therefore rather keep quiet). Sometimes I think that I too am afraid to ask Rob or to even post something on this Forum in case I get the same answer as would those disciples. As I was typing this reply I was wondering should I really post this, is this not too personal? But I think we should ask and we should post because someone else might find it helps them in something they struggled with. I know I have learned even a lot from the comments on Rob's videos. And that's why I'll post this. (Please excuse my english, I am Afrikaans).

I am glad to be connecting to other people who are also getting on the path, it's amazing, and there's hope!