“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” (Colossians 1:24)

This is one of those verses that can stop you in your tracks. After a glorious explanation of Christ’s total supremacy and the completeness of our reconciliation, Paul makes a statement that seems almost out of place. He claims to rejoice in his suffering and says he is filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. What could possibly be lacking in the work of Jesus? This line requires us to pause and look closer to grasp the profound truth Paul is sharing.

At the time he wrote this, Paul was in prison. His suffering, however, was not a new experience. His life as a missionary was marked by constant opposition. He was beaten, persecuted, ridiculed, and shipwrecked, and people actively tried to kill him. From the moment he first believed, Paul faced immense hardship for the sake of the gospel.

So, when he says he is completing Christ’s afflictions, he is not suggesting that Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross was incomplete for our salvation. That work is finished, perfect, and absolute. Instead, Paul is talking about a different kind of suffering. He understood his mission was to serve the church, which he calls Christ’s body. His suffering was the cost of bringing the full message of God to people. He endured hardship so that the church could be built up and have a deeper understanding of God’s word. He saw a purpose in his pain, and this is the very reason he could rejoice, even from a prison cell.

How Suffering Can Bless the Church

It seems counterintuitive to think that suffering could be a blessing to the church, but we see this principle woven throughout Paul’s letters. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he speaks of a “thorn in my flesh,” a tormenting messenger of Satan that followed him everywhere. This constant affliction was permitted to keep him humble because of the incredible revelations God had given him.

Three times, Paul pleaded with the Lord to take it away. God’s answer is one of the most powerful truths in all of Scripture: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This insight changed everything for Paul. He realized that his weakness was not a barrier to God’s power but the very place where it could be most perfectly displayed.

This is why he could write, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). When Paul understood that his suffering created a space for God’s power to shine, he was able to rejoice. His pain had a purpose beyond himself; it was for the benefit and building up of the church.

The Reality of Suffering in Our Lives

Suffering is a guaranteed part of the Christian journey. While it may not look as dramatic as the persecution faced by the early church or by our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world today, the reality remains that hardship is a common element of our faith. Because of this, we must be prepared.

First, we should understand that suffering for our faith is a sign that we belong to God. As Paul told the Philippians, “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). It is a gift, a privilege, to be identified with Christ in this way.

Second, our suffering should be the result of doing good, not a consequence of our own poor choices. Peter makes this distinction clear: “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). Our response to hardship should reflect the character of the One we follow.

Finally, we can find blessing in suffering because we walk a well-trodden path. This is not a new experience for God’s people. Jesus himself said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).

Given these truths, we can follow Paul’s example. We can learn to rejoice in our suffering, not because we enjoy pain, but because we know it serves a greater purpose for the church and brings glory to God. No matter what you are facing today, I pray that you find the strength to rejoice, knowing that the Father has counted you worthy to suffer for His wonderful name.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Paul rejoiced in suffering because he saw its purpose for the church. How can you find a greater purpose in your own hardships?

2. God’s power is made perfect in weakness. In what area of weakness can you invite God’s power to work in your life?

3. Suffering for your faith is called a privilege. How does this truth change your view of difficulties you face for being a believer?