Paul makes an interesting comment when talking about the relationship between experiencing grace and peace and being in the midst of persecution. "That you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer" (2 Thessalonians 1: 5). It reminds me of the mysterious verse in Hebrews, speaking of Jesus' suffering, "though he were a son, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8).
To learn can mean to master something. When Peter tried to comfort Jesus by telling him he would never suffer the cross, Jesus responded, "...you are a hindrance to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but the things of man" ( Matthew 16:23). Jesus said to his disciples after he rose from the dead, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Matthew 24:25-26).
Did not Jesus say in his prayer to his Father, "As you have sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (John 17:18)? Suffering causes us to refocus on the eternal. We can learn the surface meaning of obedience by reading a dictionary, but we are not truly obedient until we suffer for it. All believers must eventually suffer (2 Timothy 2:12)
