The Buffer for Suffer

As life prevails forward, it is easy to feel at a loss in certain situations. The music has come to a halt, the curtains have closed, and there is nothing more to say. The outcome you had hoped for has suddenly vanished and there is now an overwhelming feeling of defeat, and possibly the disappearance of joy. Let’s face it. Life can inevitably push and pull in directions we would much rather not have to walk through.

As the Bible tells us, even Jesus endured situations in His life that weren’t exactly pleasant. For instance, before being betrayed by one of His followers, He prayed fervently to the Father asking to remove the suffering He would later endure during the events of the cross. Luke also writes that Jesus was in such agony that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood, (Luke 22: 44). If looked at in its original Greek translation, “sweat” is the word idros, and the word “drops” is the word thrombos, that describes a medical word that points to blood that is abnormally thickly clotted. When joined together they depict a medical condition called hematidrosis- A state in which an individual is under intense pressure, and this person is essentially sweating blood. Even prior to this difficult time, Jesus, during His three years of ministry had undergone enormous amounts of suffering. Jesus was,

-Mocked

- Tested

-Beaten

- Ridiculed

-Humiliated

-Betrayed

-Abandoned

-Rejected

-Falsely accused

Some of these sufferings may even resonate with situations in our own lives. We want to encourage you that whatever suffering you find yourself in, Jesus also experienced these trials and emotions. He knows and understands exactly the sorrows you may be going through at this very moment, (even Jesus cried!). He makes the impossible possible, and has promised to go before us, nor leave or forsake us, (2 Deuteronomy 31:8).

Fear not friends! For there is great joy and peace awaiting you! Our God is always good and His love for us is, “Mightier than the waves of the sea,” (Psalm 93:4). Take refuge in Him for this is not yours to carry. Christ makes a convincing foundation of love and peace where our lives can be built upon and made into solid structures that even the mightiest storms cannot tear down.

And so we leave you with this word...

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need, He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths. Bringing honour to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me,” Psalm 23: 1-4.