OF THE ROYAL WAY OF THE HOLY CROSS
“Drink you lovingly your Lord’s cup, if you desire to be His friend and to have your lot with Him. Leave consolations to God, let Him do as seems best to Him concerning them. But do you, set yourself to endure tribulations, and reckon them the best consolations; for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, (Romans 8:18). Nor would they be, even if you were to endure them all. When you have come to this, that tribulation is sweet and pleasant to you for Christ’s sake, then reckon that it is well with you, because you have found paradise on earth. So long as it is hard to you to suffer and you desire to escape, so long it will not be well with you, and tribulations will follow you everywhere.
If you set yourself to that you ought, namely, to suffer and to die, it shall soon go better with you, and you shall find peace. Though you should be caught up with Paul unto the third heaven, (2 Corinthians 12:2), you are not on that account secure from suffering evil. I will show him, says Jesus, what great things he must suffer for My Name’s sake, (Acts 9:16). It remains, therefore, for you to suffer, if you will love Jesus and serve Him continually.
O that you were worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus, how great glory should await you, what rejoicing among all the saints of God, what bright example also to your neighbour; for all men commend patience, although few be willing to practise it. You ought surely to suffer a little for Christ, when many suffer heavier things for the world.
Know you of a surety that you ought to lead the life of a dying man. And the more a man dies to himself, the more he begins to live towards God. None is fit for the understanding of heavenly things, unless he has submitted himself to bearing adversities for Christ. Nothing more acceptable to God, nothing more healthful for yourself in this world, than to suffer willingly for Christ. And if it were yours to choose, you ought rather to wish to suffer adversities for Christ, than to be refreshed with manifold consolations, for you would be more like Christ and more conformed to all saints. For our worthiness and growth in grace lies not in many delights and consolations, but rather, in bearing many troubles and adversities.
If indeed there had been anything better and more profitable to the health of men than to suffer, Christ would surely have shown it by word and example. For both the disciples who followed Him, and all who desire to follow Him, He plainly exhort to bear their cross, and says, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me, (Luke 9:23). So now that we have thoroughly read and studied all things, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. We must, through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God.”
Thomas a Kempis
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 