Suffering

I have experienced leaving a safe place many times at the urging of the Holy Spirit. At the time, it was not always easy and the future was uncertain. But I always knew that if I was in God’s will for my life, He would bless me. Even though the way He was leading was rough, He always gave me peace and an inner joy. He gave me and continues to give me sweet sleep every night. And, He has blessed my life tremendously.

There are examples in the scripture where God took people away from their surroundings. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt to flee from danger (Matthew 2:13). After David was anointed the king of Israel, he had to flee for his life (I Samuel 20:31,42). Abraham was called to go to a country far from his family (Genesis 12:1).

We can be comforted as we suffer because of the name of Jesus, because Jesus suffered for us.

“For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us an example, that we should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’, who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.”  I Peter 2:20-24  NKJV