Skip to main content

Embrace Suffering

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

It is fascinating to me the lengths to which we will go to avoid suffering.  We even go to great measure to make sure those we love avoid suffering.  And yet, it is one of the foremost points of the new testament.  There is so much talk of suffering, it's kind of silly for us to think we can avoid it.  And, what's more, we really shouldn't avoid it at all, according to the scripture.  All of the authors talk about the great outcomes of suffering like joy, peace, grace, and glory.  So why do we run from it?  What is our real fear with suffering?  I believe it has to do with our pride.  If we suffer, we look weak to the world.  Think of all of the different cancer campaigns we see (this is especially close to my heart).  The "be brave" or the "you can't stop me" kinds of messages that are sent.  I know that you're attitude has an affect on your treatment, but honestly, these hurt my heart.  The last thing I would want to say about Jesus on his journey to the cross was that he was weak.  However, I don't think strength is really what Jesus had either.  I believe that Jesus' love for us was so deep that telling his accusers and torturers to stop never even came to his mind.  I think that each one of us crossed his mind while he was beaten beyond recognition and hung on the cross.  Jesus wasn't controlling himself, he was loving us.  Suffering brings us into the presence of Christ in a way that nothing else can.  When we embrace suffering with Jesus, we are able to look on it with his eyes and see suffering with love, just as he did.  I don't want to overcome my circumstances.  Jesus has already done that for me.  I want to meet Jesus in the midst of my suffering because only then can I truly know him.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mercy and Compassion

Jude 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. This is something I have struggles with, loving those who frustrate me.  How can we be merciful to those who are "corrupt" without being judgmental?  It is definitely not our place to judge one another, it is our place to love one another.  Sometimes loving the people who are rude or cruel is the hardest part of being a Christian.  My humanity would like to judge people for their behaviors and choices and lash out at them.  I believe we are only able to show true mercy and compassion for others when we accept these for ourselves from Jesus and then He lives them through us.  Allowing God to change our hearts in order that Jesus' mercy and compassion shine through is a journey.  It's not always easy.  On those difficult days, I remain quiet and ask God to love on me, so I...

Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord. This is God's word through Ezekiel in the Valley of the Dry Bones.  There are a couple of thoughts that come to mind with this verse.  First, I have to admit that sometimes I feel as though I have dry bones.  I continue on my path and lose sight of the One who brings life. At times I am surrounded by things, people, or situations that suck the life out of me and I need the breath of life from the Spirit again.  It is a conscious effort for me to not involve myself in things that are life taking.  I make the decision to spend alone time with Jesus in order to experience His life giving power.  Second, one word in particular stands out to me in this verse.  It is the word settle.  It is speaking to me today of a peace and calm that is ahead.  Things ha...

His Strength

Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. I was prompted to read this verse and it was perfect for today, of course.  All of Psalm 100 is praise to God.  For me today, I am praising God because He was faithful in something He had revealed to me a while ago.  Let me explain.  Have you ever asked God for His strength?  Not just strength, but His strength.  This is something that I was prompted to do about a year ago, not to just ask for strength in general, but to specifically request His strength to be given to me.  I know it sounds a little like a bit of rhetoric, but keep reading. In requesting God's own strength, I have noticed something tremendous has happened each time.  When God bestows His strength within me, it is so much more than just endurance.  His strength comes with clarity of mind, lightening of the spirit, and a depth of inner joy that cannot help ...