WHAT SUFFERING is... as experienced by Paul

... and now i am happy
about my sufferings for you,
for by means of my physical sufferings
i help complete what still remains
of the Son's sufferings on behalf of his body,
which is the church

... and i have been made a servant
of the church by the Father,
who gave me this task to perform
for your good

it is the task of fully proclaiming his message
which is the secret he hid through all past ages
from all mankind,
but has now revealed to his people

for this is the Father's plan:
to make known his secret to his people,
this rich and glorious secret
which he has for all peoples

and the secret is this:
the Son is in you,
which means that you will share
the glory of the Father

so we preach the Son to all men
we warn and teach everyone,
with all possible wisdom,
in order to bring each one
into the Father's presence
as a mature individual
in union with the Son

to get this done
i toil and struggle,
using the mighty strength
the the Son supplies,
which is at work in me.