Lessons From Suffering: Part 2
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8).
How does suffering create unity of mind?
When I was going through a dark season, I felt as if everything was being stripped away. All the things I had unwittingly placed above God, all my selfish desires, all the objects of misplaced trust—none of them brought peace or stability when my world was crumbling.
There was only Jesus. He alone was steadfast and solid. Nothing else mattered—I just wanted more of Him.
And when I just want more of Jesus, and you just want more of Jesus, the Holy Sprit does something beautiful. We begin to “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27) and to live out Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Though suffering is an uncomfortable place to be, sometimes so painful it steals our breath away, God uses it to change us. We become open to being transformed more and more, day by day, into the image of Christ. And in seeking Jesus above all, we find true unity.
Father, I pray for my sisters and brothers that are suffering. It is such a painful place to be. But You promise to be right there with us, and You promise to work for our good. Though it hurts, strip away our false beliefs and worldly idols until there is only Jesus. Bring us into unity so that our desire for everyone is that they, too, can just have more Jesus.
Until next time,
Shelby
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