Fellowship of His suffering, such odd words.  Who wants to suffer, let alone join others in their suffering?   What does the word suffer mean- Physical pain, mental torment, emotional trauma?

Jesus died one of the most horrific deaths, to be hung on a cross.   Do we want to join in on this suffering?  Yet, we are being asked to.  We are asked to die, die to self.   Dying to self is painful.  It means leaving all that you know and trust behind, “not my will but yours Lord” (verse Luke 22:42).   He must increase but I must decrease (John 3:30).

So, what is the reason for the suffering?  Paul declares,  “I want to know Christ–becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Phil 3:10-11

We must decrease so He can increase (Verse).