Jesus carried the ultimate weight that anyone has ever had to bear. I know that whatever we may face pales in comparison. However there are times in our life when the burdens seem too great and we ask the same question…”God, if it’s possible, can you take this away from me?” Sometimes he does, and sometimes he doesn’t. It made me wonder about those times that he doesn’t remove our “cup.” Could it be because He has a greater purpose? That maybe when the pain ends that an incredible beauty will come forth? That true life, like we never imagined it, would be ours for the taking? I think about how different our lives would be had God removed the “cup” from Jesus. There would be no hope for anyone, no joy and anticipation of our eternal home. Which makes me ask myself, “How might my life be different had God rescued me from all of the painful cups that I have had to bear? Often times it’s through the most painful moments that I have understood the love of God the most. It has allowed me to have compassion for others and a sense of how incredible God’s love truly is. How would other people’s lives be different had the cup been removed from me and beauty and life had not had the opportunity to be awakened because the process was too “painful” for me? God has used the difficult times in my life to understand His love in a greater way and I pray the outcome will beopened eyes to see others as God would.
When Judas betrayed Jesus and impulsive Peter slice off the soldier’s ear Jesus responded, “Do you not think I cannot call on my Father and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” Matthew 26:53, 54
This continues my thought that God can intervene in difficult situations in our lives. But I wonder if at those times when He doesn’t, if it’s because of this incredible beautifuloutcome that He knows is just around the corner or awaits us in eternity. Often times, immediate comfort and relief from any kind of pain doesn’t produce the results that bring the greatest victories. God sees the bigger picture and knows that our time on earth is short but what we do here can affect our eternity and the eternity of others. Our temporary pain may be the catalyst that will bring someone else to the cross. Someday we will be in our eternal home and everything will be as it should be.
“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new! Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21: 3-5
Someday everything will be right. Until then we must trust God through the good times and the bad and know that ultimately EVERYTHING will work out for His glory.
