-Sharing Christ's Sufferings- Like Paul, we should desire to share in the sufferings of Christ - which include mental, emotional and physical sufferings and also the pains of societal refection and self-denial. The death cries and agonies associated with death to self should be, in a way, comforting feelings to the Christian, even though they are painful. This gives genuine purpose to what we suffer throughout life - senseless suffering drains away life. Suffering for the right is the grace of God conforming us to His death.