“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” — John 12:27
These were Jesus’ words before He was betrayed and crucified. If anyone knows about suffering, it’s Jesus. His suffering was foretold all the way back to the book of Genesis. Isaiah 53 calls Him the “Man of Sorrows”.
What did Jesus do when He knew He was about to be betrayed, falsely accused, beaten to a bloody mess, mocked and hung to die on public display? He entrusted His life to the will of His Father. He was completely aware of the torture He was going to go through. He didn’t complain. He did something amazing. He prayed, “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” — John 12: 28
Jesus understands that there is no suffering we go through that is meaningless. Even if we don’t understand it in this lifetime, it’s not meaningless. I think about the struggles and sorrows some of you are working through right now. At times, I look around and I’m overwhelmed with sorrows and burdens that aren’t even my own. For those of you who are suffering, please know that you are not alone. God loves you so much. I pray that the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds” in these times of trouble. I pray that you wouldn’t waste your suffering. I pray you would choose to use it for God’s glory, to be able to look back and say, “God helped me suffer well.”
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Christian, you need to understand that suffering and glory go hand in hand. God uses those who have suffered to help those who are suffering.
Please know that none of your sorrow is in vain. If you are hurting, please reach out to someone. You’re not alone — you are surrounded by brothers and sisters who love you and a God who listens when you pray to Him!
Let’s learn from Jesus’ example. Jesus prayed because He knew God listened. When we pray, God listens to us.
Praying and believing,
Billy
Posted in A Word from the Pastor