Saint Julian isn’t the first or the last to have this idea that suffering is a good thing for its own sake. While persons who believe this may be well-meaning, I don’t think this idea is biblically supported. Although Jesus did not directly address this topic, (IMO) he does seem to indicate that we shouldn’t be going out of our way to add more trouble to our lives than what comes about naturally from what we’re supposed to be doing. He told his disciples in Matthew 6:32: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” That last sentence (IMO) means that each day brings enough troubles of its own, so why needlessly and artificially add to the troubles and suffering?
Oops, it’s Matthew 6:34.
That’s a fair-minded interpretation.
I would look at it more as “don’t worry about tomorrow; there’s enough to worry about today.”
If I were to find a person who found great purpose in his suffering, I’d go to the Apostle Paul who would humbly present lists of all that he had suffered for Christ SO THAT the churches would be edified.
I'm almost hesitant to bring this up since I recall it only vaguely from high school -- I don't know what status it has theologically or who said it: that Christ did not have to die on the Cross, a criminal's death, utterly painful and humiliating, to save us. By this "theory" (if that's what it is), the Incarnation would have been enough. But the overflowing generosity and love of God doesn't settle for "enough" -- it goes for abundance!
I do know that when I've been going through the greatest physical pain, I've also felt closest to God -- and this holds even for far lesser things like self-denial during Lent.