Are you facing a situation that causes you great suffering? Everyone deals with hurtful situations, but some are especially painful.

How do you deal with things that have hurt you for a long time? What do you do when someone you care about engages in self-destructive behavior? Maybe you’ve tried to talk to them. You’ve done everything you can, but things haven’t gotten better.

Even Jesus experienced what you are feeling. Even the Son of God faced limitations, just like every human being. Jesus had no control over the hearts and minds of others. And some of those closest to him made disastrous decisions.

None of that stopped our Lord from completing his mission. He continued forward with deep trust in his Father’s will. He continued to serve lovingly and faithfully. And the final result was glorious.

Let Jesus’ example show you the way. Follow him.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Support my work

Plenty to give

The hard things. The tough times.

Sometimes it hurts so bad. The pain eases then returns.

And you wonder, how can I keep going?

You want to run away and hide. You wish it would all just go away.

For you have tried everything you can think of to make it better.

But what if you found a new way? What if a new path was revealed to you?

Consider the Lord. Consider his ways.

Even he could not control the hearts of others. Denied, betrayed, and abandoned by those closest to him.

But he didn’t take it personally. Resentment did not poison his heart. Instead, he transformed his sorrow into service. He embraced the hurt to bring forth the greatest good, the deepest joy.

Run away and hide if you want to. Ignore the pain. Or lean into it and carry your cross. Find new ways. Open up new spaces in your heart.

Wait upon the Lord. Unite with him.

Be fed and filled by the One that gives you eternal life.

Then discover you have plenty of life left to give.