From Charles Spurgeon - the great English preacher of a previous century. Morning devotional

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." Hebrews 5:8

We are told that the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, therefore we who are sinful, and who are far from being perfect, must not wonder if we are called to pass through suffering too. Shall the head be crowned with thorns, and shall the other members of the body be rocked upon the dainty lap of ease? Must Christ pass through seas of His own blood to win the crown, and are we to walk to heaven dryshod in silver slippers? No, our Master's experience teaches us that suffering is necessary, and the true-born child of God must not, would not, escape it if he might. But there is one very comforting thought in the fact of Christ's "being made perfect through suffering" it is, that He can have complete sympathy with us. "He is not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." In this sympathy of Christ we find a sustaining power.

JB here. Suffering is anathema to our culture and our generation. Oh yes, we DO suffer, we just think we shouldn't. We lost sight of what suffering can do. 1. Turn our attention towards our creator, 2. Mature us and teach us love for those who also suffer. To paraphrase an English author of an earlier era - All the great lessons in life came in times of pain. INDEED