In this precious and finite life, there are things we must all go through that will deeply challenge our well-being and belief system. Many times we can get so used to our normal way of life that when sudden hardships strike, all we can do is think about how we been the target of unjust cruelty. When drastic events unfold and shake the ground under our feet, the pain we experience can make us think life is unfair, fragile and without meaning.
Sometimes it's easy to overlook that suffering is an inescapable fact of life. You can never succeed in anything in life without ever being acquainted with the fatal sting of failure. Even in loss, there is much to gain. When Jesus walked the earth, he knew he would face death by his accusers. As he stated, "in a little while, you will see me no more" (John 16:16). Yet, this did not sway him from completing his mission.
Jesus embraced the harshest conditions of cruelty, until finally being consumed by an agonizing and unjust death. This occurred to show mankind that even the son of God is not immune from suffering. There are times when everything we know about life will come into question once we confront an experience that can possibly change our course forever. We must know that we are not in it alone.
God has already tackled the heights of hardship in his mortal body so that we can be assured that even through the most violent tempest, only God will sustain us because he has defeated every power that will rise against us in life. As the Prophet Isaiah once said, "He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed" (Isaiah 53:4, The Message). The struggles we will inevitably endure in life have been completely overcome by a God who has absorbed the wounds of a fallen world.
God took upon himself every vile and heart-wrenching predicament every human would possibly face so that in our moment of need, we would turn to him for comfort and strength. As Scripture states, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are..." (Hebrews 4:15).
Some of us toil with very real painful experiences, i.e., loss of loved ones, betrayal, physical or mental impairment, rejection, loss of employment, etc. What's more, is that we keep this pain secluded in our hearts and carry it around like a heavy weight that keeps us paralyzed. Yet, there is hope that God is closest to us when our heart is loaded with the most grief. When we go through the unthinkable, God is there to console, assuring us that God's power is most active when we allow him to share in our struggles.
He walks within and alongside us, lifting our frail souls when our own strength fails us. It's in moments when were at our wits end; when there is no dawn in sight and the bleakness of the night begins to instill terror in our hearts, that God faithfully avails himself with his expedient aid. It's natural to think that what we may be going through is unique to us. This can make us reluctant to let anyone in on the turmoil that festers inside. The truth is, no amount of anguish is ever too far removed from the reach of the ever-living God.
You need never think the trial you face is yours alone to bear. For when we feel like the wind has been pulled from our body, God is there to supply his breath of life. The sorrows of mankind were on His cross. His mission was to quench and silence the causes of our deepest groans in every area of life. Fix your eyes on him and he will cast away the cares of your heart. As Jesus said, "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mathew 11:28).