school of suffering

Have you ever suffered?  Been through a hard time?  I heard a minister say one time if you aren't going though a storm or just came out of a storm - you better hang on because one is on its way.  No one knew suffering like Jesus.

Isaiah 53:3-5

3 He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

A lot of times it feels like we are going to the school of suffering.  We have acquired many degrees - loss, pain, sorrow, emptiness, anger, disappointment...and the list goes on.  Sometimes it seems that once we are finally ready to graduate from the school of suffering, we are sent back for another degree.  

We must remember, even through our suffering, that God is Always GOOD.  

Psalm 34:8

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him

And everything he does, he does with you in mind.

James 1:2-4

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

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