So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. 

Numbers 21:9

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.  

John 3:14

Death comes to the old and young alike, disability has no prejudice, Alzheimers, Divorce, Abuse, Depression, Anxiety; loss of immeasurable proportion- Suffering comes to us all.

[Tweet “You are not #alone in your #sufferings- God is with you. #strength #compassion”]

There are days when I look at the suffering and pain in this world, I can barely breathe. “Why oh, God, does it have to be this way?”  The brokenness, the isolation, the prison sentence in our earthly bodies.  “When will this suffering end?”

s

[Tweet “We have a #Savior who #suffered and died. #notAlone #compassion”]

s

I look up to ask WHY? demand an answer or solution and then I  see Jesus.

  I want to look away. 

It’s horrible; torturous.

But I force my heart and soul to look up.  I fix my eyes- I cannot- no- dare not take my eyes from the broken, scarred body of Jesus. 

s

Somehow, I know, if I stare at His suffering, I will be healed.

s

The longer I look, the dawn of understanding breaks forth: Jesus has fully suffered and understands my pain in full.  

I survey the mysterious message of the cross.

As parents, when we watch our child suffer- we would take their suffering for our own- we would trade places if we could.

s

That is the Father Love of our God!

s

He was determined to enter into our suffering.  By His death, He was able to break the power of death.

s

[Tweet “To understand God’s #love and #compassion, we must understand the #cross. #suffering”]

s

As I look intently at the cross, I realize my focus is wrong most of the time.  I’m staring at the wrong WHY.    

[Tweet “Love was the #nails that held #Jesus to the #cross.”]

w
Love that endures all things. Love that compelled Him to enter our suffering. Love that knows how we long for Wholeness and Restoration.  Love that will suffer anything for Redemption; Saving our body, soul, and spirit. 

s

As I gaze upon the cross, my focus has changed from my “sufferings” to His great sacrifice.  My suffering unites with His sufferings and I become consumed by His love.  

s

Our prayer: Father of all mercies and grace- Help us see You are with us in our sufferings and You understand the depths of our pain.  We are humbled by your love. In the Name of Jesus who suffered, died, and rose victorious!  Amen.

Surprising Treasure: He paid a debt He did not owe.