Suffering in this life is inevitable. When we face suffering we will also face temptations that we may not face outside of those trials. There are two points of good news for us when we suffer; Jesus has also suffered. He faced persecution, terrible pain, he struggled for breath, and every movement caused terrible pain in his body. He felt hunger and thirst, and the loss of those close to him. (I wonder if he felt the sorrow of Judas’ suicide?) And in each of these painful situations he was attacked by the same fleshly desires that we encounter. The temptations to flee, fight back, scream in anger, and call down curses on his oppressors ravaged his tasked spirit. The second point of good news is that since Jesus suffered and was tempted JUST AS WE ARE he knows what strength we need to persevere. And he will give us exactly what we need, but not necessarily what we want, to get through the pain we must face.
Stuart
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