Is there exclusivity in suffering?
Are there reasons for the beatings in life?
“Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.” – Mark 15:19-20
It is my personal belief that nothing is ever wasted with God. No moment, no event no blessing and certainly no suffering ever happens with God not in direct control or being able to stop it if He so chose.
I therefore believe after having gone through a whole lot of suffering that each and every millisecond of pain has purpose. Keep in mind that God’s primary purpose is to make me a better Lover to Him and to others.
Jesus knew this all too clearly and because He knew the end game He basically begged God in the garden of Gethsemane to double check and see if there was any other way to get this mission accomplished.
While I am not happy that Jesus suffered I rejoice in His prayer that night for a simple reason- we all pray that at one time or another when we hurt and suffer- don’t we?
“God please make my hurt go away” “God if you were real it wouldn’t hurt like this” “God- WHY?”- Do any of these sound familiar?
By His stripes we are healed and reconciled to God. His pain, each and every millisecond of it had purpose just like yours and mine does – doesn’t mean it won’t hurt but in the acceptance, in the faith that He knows what He is doing there is healing of another sort.
There is healing to create in us through the humbling of the hurt a more refined Lover than there was before. A more accepting and caring being in the place of the formerly self-centered one and this is a continual process that ends with our last breath here.
Yes the kingdom of God is Here and Now but that doesn’t mean we will always Be in it and when we are not pain is God’s gentle way of creating in us the heart of Being in the kingdom just a little bit more. But remember your pain might be helping someone else Be in the kingdom just a little bit more as well- that’s why Jesus had this pain.
Here is a meditation I hope you can use next time you are in pain and need to Be Here Now with Love. Find a time and place where you probably won’t be disturbed and just take a big deep shrug of the shoulders. Then take a couple of deep cleansing breathes and with each exhale just relax any stress you might find in your body. Mine is usually between my shoulders. Also really relax your jaw as you close your eyes and return to normal breathing. As you do:
Breathe in and say:
“You are my fortress”
Breathe out and say:
“And I am safe”
Breathe in and say:
“You are my Peace”
Breathe out and say:
“And I have Peace”
Practice this way daily for a while and see if the Peace and Safety of God Almighty begins to open your perspective on your life.
Click the words below to grow in Peace in the midst of pain:
Don’t worry- BeGraceFull.com!!
