Yesterday was noteworthy for two reasons. First, I joined a bunch of 20-somethings many years my juniors in taking the first exam of our medical school careers. It was certainly a unique event for this author who last took Anatomy and Physiology fifteen years ago. However, just as noteworthy was the sight after the test: a sea of humanity spread out from those lecture halls buzzing about those mean questions from those mean professors. We were all, suddenly, the best of friends. A guy I had never seen before smiled and said, “Hey, man, how'd ya do?” That lab mate who I thought had forgotten my name all of sudden wanted to run down the answers with me. We had been through the fire, but we had been through the fire together, and that made all of difference.

It's funny how a difficulty, when shared with others, can lead to a sense of unity, relief, and maybe even joy. James chapter 1 famously teaches that such trials are actually the means by which we grow and become complete. I will admit that I've sometimes felt guilty when I've used New Testament passages on enduring suffering to write in a Bible study about being ostracized at work. My little application to modern life seems disrespectful to those who shed blood during their trials. Within the comfortable lives we lead we do in fact encounter great difficulties, but our first-century counterparts faced opposition that threatened every aspect of their lives, often driving them to the fringes of society. However, we are still faced with this concept that the adversity we face brings us benefit and is even necessary for our development.

When thinking of suffering under great difficulty, it is natural to consider the cross. Perhaps it is most interesting that Jesus asked each of His followers to voluntarily shoulder a cross in following Him. Jesus, of course, was the ultimate example of this, leaving the glory of heaven to live humbly in a world where He would be attacked and killed (Phil. 2). Is there a sense in which we are not only to endure adversity when it comes upon us, but we are also to take it on willingly for the sake of others? Perhaps this would be a shocker to the world around us and lead to them taking notice. This may mean taking the risk of intervening on someone's behalf. Or maybe just sincerely befriending someone who might take away some of your time and energy. Is it ever our place to deliberately shoulder hardship that is not even ours to bear? Or do we each have enough trouble of our own? What do you think?