Through It

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”
Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Matthew 16:21-23 NLT

Christ told them plainly what would happen - but Peter didn't like the idea and Peter in his humanness was trying to protect Jesus and wanted to change it. Peter couldn't see where any good would come of that plan of action. And yet it was a major part of The Plan to provide salvation for all of mankind. Had Christ not laid down His life to redeem us, where would we be? The crucifixion was crucial to God's Plan.

And often that's the case when we are walking through trials in our own lives. We try to walk around it or get out of it, or find some other way... and sometimes we even just give up. We listen to other well-meaning but misguided people telling us if we were following the Lord correctly, this wouldn't be happening. Or if we would just _____________, then we could avoid all this. Or there's always another way...

However, Romans 5:3-4 NLT encourages us, We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
James 1:3-4 NLT tells us For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (In other Bible translations, endurance is translated as patience for both Scripture passages.)

The Truth is that sometimes the only way through the trials and tribulations of life is to go THROUGH them to the other side - to learn what God is trying to teach us through the suffering. If we ask Him, He will tell us.

Prayer:

Father,
         Jesus told us that in this life we would have trials and tribulations, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. Help us to keep our focus on that Truth. Help us also to be of good cheer. Holy Spirit, guide us into all Truth and show us what we are to learn in every circumstance. Help us to pray also, Nevertheless, Thy will be done. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for February 2nd
Exodus 15:19-17:7
Matthew 22:1-33
Psalm 27:1-6
Proverbs 6:20-26