In the beginning, Adam and Eve were “blessed”, “very good”, in fellowship with God and working away in the garden.

When they sinned, they covered their nakedness, hid and blamed. Sin makes us do that: we close up to protect ourselves from judgement.

But we all know that closing up also keeps us from receiving anything good. So maybe God gave us suffering to open us back up.

We all want to be cool, in control and faultless. This is the opposite of humble, vulnerable and accessible – the posture needed to receive love.

Suffering that’s too much for us to bear causes us to let the love of others/God in and results in the glory of intimate friendship:

1. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. – 2 Corinthians 1:8
2. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it – 1 Corinthians 12:26
3. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. – 1 Peter 4:13

As I look back on my life, my best friendships were formed not through endless beach volleyball and BBQ’s. They were forged through suffering. I’m guessing your life is the same.

The call to follow Jesus is the call to suffer so his love can get in, so we can fully enter into his kingdom of love: “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” – Acts 14:22.

God is always calling us to endure suffering (not escape it, not always getting healed or rescued, not running away, not getting crushed by it) so his love can fill us: “We glory in our sufferings… because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts” – Romans 5:3-5.

Hear the intimacy in Paul’s words: not “crucified like Christ”, but “crucified with Christ”. They became one through suffering: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” – Galatians 2:20

Let’s not miss out on that ourselves, and let’s not protect others from truly knowing God: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings” – Philippians 3:10

Here are 100 examples of God encouraging us to endure suffering:

1. Matthew 5:11 – Blessed in persecution.
2. Matthew 10:22 – Endure until the end.
3. Matthew 10:39 – Whoever loses their life.
4. Matthew 24:13 – Endure to the end.
5. Mark 8:35 – Lose life for Christ.
6. Mark 10:29-30 – Receive hundredfold in suffering.
7. Luke 6:22-23 – Blessed in suffering.
8. Luke 9:23 – Take up your cross.
9. Luke 17:33 – Lose life for Christ.
10. Luke 21:19 – By your endurance.
11. Luke 18:29-30 – Given back manifold.
12. John 12:25 – Hate life in world.
13. John 14:1 – Believe in God, believe also in Me.
14. John 16:33 – In Me you’ll have peace.
15. Acts 5:41 – Rejoiced in suffering.
16. Acts 9:16 – Show him how much he must suffer.
17. Acts 14:22 – Through many tribulations.
18. Acts 20:24 – Testify to gospel.
19. Acts 27:24 – God’s promise will be fulfilled.
20. Romans 5:3-4 – Suffering produces endurance.
21. Romans 6:8 – Live with Christ.
22. Romans 8:17-18 – Suffering with Christ.
23. Romans 8:28 – All things work together.
24. Romans 12:12 – Be patient in tribulation.
25. Romans 12:14 – Bless those who persecute.
26. Romans 15:4 – Endurance and encouragement.
27. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 – Sustained guiltless to end.
28. 1 Corinthians 4:9-13 – Fools for Christ’s sake.
29. 2 Corinthians 4:16 – Our outer self is wasting away.
30. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – Run to obtain prize.
31. 1 Corinthians 10:13 – God provides way out.
32. 2 Corinthians 1:6 – Suffering for comfort.
33. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 – Rely on God’s deliverance.
34. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – Persecuted, not forsaken.
35. 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 – Carry Jesus’ death.
36. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Light and momentary afflictions.
37. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 – Absent from the body.
38. 2 Corinthians 6:4-5 – Endure in everything.
39. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – Power perfected in weakness.
40. Galatians 2:20 – Crucified with Christ.
41. Galatians 5:24 – Crucify the flesh.
42. Ephesians 3:13 – Do not lose heart.
43. Ephesians 6:13-14 – Stand firm in armor.
44. Philippians 1:29 – Granted to suffer.
45. Philippians 2:17 – Poured out as offering.
46. Philippians 3:7-8 – Count all as loss.
47. Philippians 4:6-7 – Peace that surpasses understanding.
48. Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things.
49. Colossians 1:24 – Fill up Christ’s afflictions.
50. Colossians 2:12 – Raised through faith.
51. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 – Joy in the midst of affliction.
52. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 – Appointed for affliction.
53. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 – Obtain salvation through Jesus.
54. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice, pray, give thanks.
55. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 – Perseverance in afflictions.
56. 1 Timothy 4:10 – Suffer and strive for godliness.
57. 1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight.
58. 2 Timothy 1:8 – Share in suffering.
59. 2 Timothy 2:3 – Share in suffering.
60. 2 Timothy 2:10 – Endure all things.
61. 2 Timothy 2:12 – If we endure, we will also reign.
62. 2 Timothy 3:12 – Will be persecuted.
63. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 – Finished the race.
64. Hebrews 2:9-10 – Suffered to bring salvation.
65. Hebrews 6:10-12 – Show diligence to inherit.
66. Hebrews 10:32-34 – Joyfully accepted plundering.
67. Hebrews 10:35-36 – Do not throw away confidence.
68. Hebrews 11:25-26 – Chose to be mistreated.
69. Hebrews 11:35-38 – Tortured, mocked, imprisoned.
70. Hebrews 12:1-2 – Run with endurance the race.
71. James 1:2-4 – Count it all joy.
72. James 1:12 – Crown of life.
73. James 1:19-20 – Be slow to anger.
74. James 5:7-8 – Be patient until Lord’s coming.
75. James 5:10-11 – Example of endurance.
76. 1 Peter 1:3-9 – Tested genuineness of faith.
77. 1 Peter 2:19-20 – Endure unjust suffering.
78. 1 Peter 2:21 – Christ suffered, follow in his steps.
79. 1 Peter 3:14 – Do not fear intimidation.
80. 1 Peter 4:1 – Arm yourselves with Christ’s mindset.
81. 1 Peter 4:12-13 – Rejoice in suffering.
82. 1 Peter 4:19 – Entrust souls to faithful Creator.
83. 1 Peter 5:6-7 – Cast cares on God.
84. 1 Peter 5:10 – Restoration after suffering.
85. 2 Peter 1:5-7 – Add endurance to godliness.
86. 2 Peter 2:9 – Rescues the godly.
87. 2 Peter 3:11 – Live holy and godly.
88. 1 John 2:17 – Do the will of God.
89. 1 John 3:13 – Marvel not, brethren.
90. 1 John 4:4 – Overcome the world.
91. 1 John 5:4 – Overcomes the world.
92. Revelation 2:10 – Be faithful unto death.
93. Revelation 2:26-27 – To the one who overcomes.
94. Revelation 6:9-11 – Souls under the altar.
95. Revelation 12:11 – Overcame by the blood.
96. Revelation 13:10 – Endurance and faith.
97. Revelation 14:12 – Endurance of the saints.
98. Revelation 17:14 – Overcome Lamb’s victory.
99. Revelation 21:4 – Wipe away tears.
100. Revelation 21:7 – Inherit all things.