Suffering for and with God is also gift!

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

(Matthew 7:7‭-‬12)

One thing for sure, we must be careful what we ask for because God just may give it to us!

You see, to expect God to grant us things, we must be in His will. Like parents, He is not going to reward us for doing wrong. However, suffering for and with God is also  gift!

In Philippians 1 and 3 Paul writes of sharing in the suffering of Christ as part of fellowship with Him. As we desire a closer relationship with the Lord, we realize God is not Santa! He just doesn't hand out everything we desire just because we are good. Pruning, discipline, heartaches, even losses akso hring us closer to Him and His will for us!

Do you and I really want what God wants for us? Are we ready to share in His fellowship?