Does God Use Suffering to Conform the Believer to the Image of Christ?

Hebrews 12:3-13
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
(ESV Strong's)

Note that I am not claim God never provides us with pleasant moments, either. God blesses us with good times as well as difficult times. However, in the process of conforming the believer to the image of Christ, he will experience bad times too.

As I posted these Scriptures, I am thinking about this....

it seems like when I've been in a vibrant church, there have been a lot of suffering people.

Why do I think that's the situation?

yes he does its clear from the bible and not only bible but from our personal experience we see it. people who have been through hard things are many times more compassionate loving gentle kind and im afraid to say it but: happy than the average person.

1 Peter 4:13-16
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
(ESV Strong's)

i wanna see who voted no? didnt they read all verses posted by UWC and Judges?

Jn 10:10
Jesus the Good Shepherd
…9I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.…'
The Joyful Return
…18So He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”…
My daughter went to heaven a few years ago at 33. I was there as she lay on the stretcher. Her husband and my son were there with the ambulance workers. I KNEW she could have been brought back to life, but when I said 'come back' the lady attendant said 'oh that can't happen'. I said Jesus brought Lazarus back and then the other guy said 'well that was then'. My son and son-in-law are believers but unfortunately at that time, their faith wasn't there for that. Bringing people, by faith, back from the dead is not that uncommon, to those with the faith for it.
My suffering/remorse, was in that we didn't act sooner to help her addiction before it got to that point.
The saints who suffer for Christ and don't bow down, are doing it for Christ's sake. Paul was afflicted with a ailment because God didn't want Paul to be exhaulted.
Some Christians don't believe that the Scripture 'By His stripes we are healed' means healing however many do and are healed.
I know we will have a period of mourning for the passing of loved ones, but does God WANT us to suffer, I think not. Those who choose to suffer for His sake, is commendable and they will be so blest in Heaven. But the Body of Christ should be over-comers and conquerors through the Blood of the Lamb and our testimony of Faith in His Goodness.

Bringing people, by faith, back from the dead is not that uncommon, to those with the faith for it.

but does God WANT us to suffer, I think not.

I see a distinct difference between having the faith to know that God can bring someone back to life, and having the faith to know that he will. Definitely count me in as one who has faith that God can do that. But, unless God specifically tells me that someone is coming back from the dead if I pray for them I can only be one who has faith that he can do it, not absolutely will do it.

I see a distinct difference between having the faith to know that God can bring someone back to life, and having the faith to know that he will. Definitely count me in as one who has faith that God can do that. But, unless God specifically tells me that someone is coming back from the dead if I pray for them I can only be one who has faith that he can do it, not absolutely will do it.

Suffering for the believer is purposeful, as well, and that is comforting to the suffering person.