The Privilege of Suffering

“Grapes cannot be drunk. Only through crushing do they become fine wine.”

Scripture: “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” – Philippians 1:29

A Life Poured Out for Christ

In our natural thinking, suffering seems like something to be avoided at all costs. Yet Scripture reveals that suffering for Christ is not merely a consequence of faith but a privilege. Paul understood this deeply. He didn’t just endure suffering—he embraced it as part of his fellowship with Christ.

Jesus Himself said that whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for His sake will find it. This paradox runs counter to everything the flesh desires. We want comfort, security, and ease, yet God calls us to something far greater—true life in Christ, which often means sharing in His sufferings.

Oswald Chambers describes this process as being made into fine wine. In winemaking, grapes are useless until they are crushed. We may accept suffering in theory, but when God uses unexpected means—difficult people, painful circumstances, or seasons of uncertainty—we resist. Yet, if we yield to His work, we find that suffering is not a loss but a refining. We are not victims of suffering; we are vessels being prepared to pour out His life.

Paul himself endured rejection, criticism, and affliction, yet he never saw these things as obstacles. Instead, they were necessary elements in his walk of faith. He had learned the secret: fear has no place in the life of one who trusts Christ fully. God is not looking for those who accumulate medals of self-achievement but for those who bear the marks of walking with Him.

When suffering comes, will we see it as an invasion, or as an invitation?

Journal Reflection

Lord, You have already won the victory, and in You, I lack nothing. You have given me the privilege of sharing in Your life—not just in Your resurrection, but in Your sufferings as well. There is nothing wasted in Your hands. The challenges, the trials, the moments that press hard upon me are not interruptions but invitations to trust You more deeply.

I do not shrink back. You live in me, and You are sufficient for every moment. I refuse to see hardship as something to escape but as an opportunity to see Your power working through me. The world sees suffering as a thief, but I know better—it is a teacher, shaping me, molding me, and allowing Your life to be made manifest in ways I could never orchestrate on my own.

Fear has no hold on me. I belong to You, and You have already overcome the world. My life is not slipping away; it is being poured out in eternal purpose. What a privilege to be Yours, fully and completely.

Prayer

Father, thank You that I am hidden in Christ and lack nothing. You have not called me to a life of fear but to the assurance that all things—joy and suffering alike—are under Your sovereign hand. I trust You. Whatever You allow, You have already provided the grace to endure. My life is not my own, and in that truth, I find perfect peace. I yield to You, confident that You are working in and through me for Your glory.

Amen.

Devotional insights from Ray Stedman’s Immeasurably More

Ideal Image: A winepress crushing grapes, with rich, deep red juice flowing out.