 Not might. Not maybe. Jesus promised us that we WILL have suffering. This isn't a popular conversation topic because we want to believe that being a Christian will mean our life is easy. God is on our side so everything will be perfect now. Our prayers are heard so, poof! Amazing things are going to happen for us. Here’s the truth because I think you can handle it... Bad things happen to good people with great faith because we live in a broken world. That moment sin entered in made it impossible for all of us to escape hurt and pain. So, despite our prayers, our parents still divorce. Our future plans get ruined. Our heart gets broken. Things can get pretty ugly. We have Jesus, not a genie, and following Him doesn't always lead us down the easiest path. Throughout the Bible we encounter people just like us who had some really hard times. They prayed and didn't hear answers right away. They messed up big time and had to face the consequences. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33, NIV What they learned and what John 16:33 is telling us is that being a Christian doesn't make our life easy, it makes us come alive in the hardest of times. Despite suffering, we find peace because we know Jesus was well acquainted with pain, even to the point of death. While we may be in a bad place, God knows exactly where we're at and will meet us there with His comfort and grace. Both hurt and hope are guaranteed to us. The biggest difference that allows us to "take heart" is that hardship is temporary, God's love and our place with Him in heaven is eternal. Our life is not defined by our pain but our promise that, in Christ, we are overcomers! Journal or Doodle: What has caused your heart to hurt the most lately? What does it mean to you that Jesus completely sympathizes and feels what you feel? Will you allow God to meet you in your pain, suffer with you, and provide the hope and peace you need to bring you through?
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