For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

We are in this struggle together.

You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Philippians 1:28-30 NLT

Suffering is not anyone's favourite topic, but in the context of lockdown and bubbles Paul speaks here to the reality of suffering, and two keys to living in or with suffering:

If that suffering is because of Jesus then it is a privilege. That's quite a thing to get our heads around. 

Paul has quite a few examples of his own suffering because he was following Jesus - shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment. To see those things as a privilege is to see way beyond them to what Jesus did, who he is, and the hope we have.

The other key is this: "we are in this struggle together".

We need one another when we're suffering. None of us are made to go it alone, and that's especially true when we're suffering.

Paul uses the analogy of the body often. If one part of our body is injured, the rest of the body compensates, nurtures, provides resources for healing, protects. 

We are in this struggle together.

That's what community is about. 

#inthistogether