What does it mean to suffer for / with Christ?

Many times people equate suffering w/ doing poorly, struggling financially or having poor health.  I know Paul spoke about the thorn in his flesh, but but what was the thorn?  Why was it not healing and causing him so much pain? Does it have anything to do w/ suffering for Christ sakes?  These are some of the questions I will attempt to speak about very briefly.

First, I believe in consequences.  The Bible is very clear that we will have to pay for the choices we make in life.  Look at Soddom and Gormorah, John the Baptist dad david and Bathsheeba just to name a few.  Could it be that Pual had to suffer some consequences for the evil he metted out on God's people when he was Saul?  Just a thought.  When it comes to sickness Jesus said it is there to bring glory to the Father, remember when they asked about why the man was blind?  They asked whose sin was it for him to be born this way the mother or father.  The truth of the matter is that our God fashioned the universe and all things beyhond it and our comprehension.  Truly He can heal us of our diseases, sickness and pains.  It takes faith to please God, however if it is His will nothing will change it.  Some people may have these problems due to sin in their lives, unbroken generational curses or the mere fact that we live in a corrouptile bodies prone to be affected by the properities of this World.  In short, God did not promise to heal everyone of everything, Paul is the example. 

 The question now turns to whether or not this suffering is for Christ sake?  Yes and No would be my answer to this and here's why.  No b/c there may be situations where your suffering is self afflicted I cant just have a pain in my side for Christ sake when I can go to the Hospitol and get treatment.  Remember Christ said that it (illness) is in this world to bring Glory to God.  So I can be sick w/ Aids but do all things to spread the gospel inspite of my condition and health.  I can then say I am suffering for Christ right?  I don't think so, certainly God can receive glory from it but having Aids has nothing to do w/ Christ.

So what is suffering for Christ sake?  I am still working through it folks, It has been blessing me too.  Freeing me from trapping mindsets that God wants me to lack for His glory.  Truly God wants from all of us is to put our trust and Hope in Christ Jesus and hold fast to the faith and living righteous and holy blameless lives.  This means we may have to take some hard stands in the World and not comprise what we believe.  Example, one of my friends was running for office, he refused to speak a gay parade rally which is big in the city he was running in.  He knew he would come under attack for not attending it, he could lose a lot of votes and support.  The media could ruin his reputation over it.  His opponents could use it aginst him in their campaign.  However, no matter the criticism, attacks the possibility of being called a homophobe or losing the election, this brother stood up for what he knows to be right.  He stood for Christ in a time where otheres comprised for fear of the Wordly consequences.  The criticism he did endure was in fact Suffering for Christ's sake.  Lastly, the girls from Colombine High who refused to denounce Christ even w/ shotguns pointed at them they suffered for Christ's sake.  Stand up for Christ in a World who thinks they know Him but haven't a clue.  The World needs us to suffer for Him as they see it is not a game.  Look at the first century saints and all they endured, look at the modern day sain't in these muslim ran countries, Sudan China these saints are suffering for Him and their rewards our stacking high in Heaven where it all counts.