This verse jumped out at me: Phil 1:29 – For to you, it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

It’s been given – granted; on behalf of Christ – not only to believe (which I have consistently recognized as priority) but also to suffer. The suffering is granted just as the belief. It’s on Christ’s behalf – for His sake.

There’s a sense in which we complete the sufferings of Christ. That’s always been a bit mysterious to me because there’s certainly a sense in which His sufferings were completely sufficient. But being here on this fallen earth as His ambassadors in a very real sense involves suffering. As does, being conformed to the image of Christ. These sufferings are granted to us for His sake.

I’ve often felt guilty for suffering thinking because I know so much truth and have walked with God for so many years that I should be doing better! However, that doesn’t work because it’s not true. Jesus suffered and begged for another way. Paul said he had gone through unbearable suffering. In a recent sermon, Tim Cowan said, nowhere does the Bible say grieve not, weep not, cry not. It does say fear not.

This from Expository Dictionary of Bible Words by Richards confirms truth: “Grasping what the Bible teaches about suffering and how to meet it will not relieve our pain nor release us from circumstances beyond our control. But it will enable us to cope and it will rekindle our hope.”

Rekindled hope is an incredible blessing, right in the midst of suffering.

I have been looking for and waiting for something to fill the empty places in my heart after losing Mom and Joe. The losses are not as hard to wrap my mind around; they are not as painful; but the awareness of loss is always there. Lately I have run into verses like this one in Ps. 119:32  I will run the course of Your commandments, For You have enlarged my heart. (You can also check out Isa. 60:5, I Kgs. 4:29; 2 Cor. 6, 11, 13) Seems God was telling me that those losses were irreplaceable, but He would enlarge my heart and there would be new places for other people and other things in His plans for me. Each Word He has given me during this process has brought comfort and peace and hope, and each one came at just the right time!