Christ's Suffering and Our Suffering: Is There a Connection? by Sally Pesta

 Greetings in our Lord and King Jesus Christ!!  Jesus keeps us!

 

I recently asked some Christian friends for their thoughts on Jesus' suffering and does it compare, if at all, with our suffering.  In this posting, a close friend of mine had some important things to say. 

Sally is a contributing author on this blog, and I am dedicating this writing to her parents, Marge and Sam Seward. These two people and the Lord God must be proud of this woman, Sally~ this daughter whose thoughts are very close to Jesus throughout her busy day and life, who gives of herself to her husband, children, siblings, nieces, nephews and more; to church, friends, and the community; works hard and well in a highly technical field, yet she always has time to encourage others, all along her path each day!  She is a true giver of herself to others showing us a Christ-like life. She comes into a room, and you immediately see and feel her presence of warmth, love, and standing firm in her Lord Jesus.  There is a saying that "Still waters run deep."  Well, my friend, Sally is deep, but she is not still!

Christ's Suffering and Your Suffering:
Is There a Connection?

I really have two trains of thought on this:

1. Sam

The pastor comes to see Sam and gets down and looks him in the eyes and says "God honors what you are going through Sam, God more than anyone honors and understands and you are going to receive Blessings beyond measure because of this suffering..."

Now on the one hand, I think,

God is making a 12 year boy suffer?

what kind of crap is that?

I listen with my head and don't understand a God like that...

Now on the other hand, I keep hearing

Kerrie Robert's song "before a heartache can ever touch our lives,

it has to go through God's hands..."  ***(Remaining words of the song are toward the end of this note from Sally.)

I know God did not have Sam hit on purpose by that car.

I also know that God takes all that pain and finds the good and when we allow our eyes, heart to open, we start to see it too.....

I listen with my heart and know that God has never left any of us,

never let any of us go....including Sam.

None of us.

2. Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

May 2012 I came down with some hives....by July 2012, they were in waves and all the time... I called upon friends, pastors, family to pray for me. I know without a doubt that the only reason I am alive today is because of those prayers.

Why me?..... Why not me?

I have been in remission for over a year.

I feel guilty the days I forget to thank God for the healing...

I know that Jesus suffered unmeasurably in his earthly dying.

I cannot begin to understand that kind of pain.

I cannot begin to understand what my brother and sister in law feel about Sam's suffering. I do understand love that big for our kids....

I cannot begin to understand God sending His Son to suffer on purpose.

I know that I would humbly and frightened to death, take the place of that kind of suffering instead of willingly send my child.

The rest of Kerrie's song speaks volumes and says it so much more eloquently than I ever could....

***Kerrie Roberts - No Matter What

I’m running back to your promises one more time, Lord that’s all I can hold on to, I gotta say this has taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises you. Before a heartache can ever touch my life, it has to go through Your hands, and even though I, keep asking why, I keep asking why,

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not,if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.

When I’m stuck in this nothing-ness by myself, I’m just sitting in silence, there’s no way I can make it without Your help, I won't even try it. I know You have Your reasons for everything, so I will keep believing, whatever I might be feeling, God you are my hope, and you'll be my strength,

No matter what, I’m gonna love You, no matter what I’m gonna need You, I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what, no matter what.

Anything I don’t have You can give it to me, but it’s ok if You don’t, I’m not here for those things, the touch of Your love is enough on its own, no matter what I still love You and I’m gonna need You

No matter what I’m gonna still love you, no matter what I’m gonna need you, I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain but if not, if not, I’ll trust You, I know that You can find a way to keep me from the pain, but if not, if not, I’ll trust you, no matter what no matter what no matter no matter what

 

Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Proverbs 8:10

Sally Catherine Seward Pesta

 

Thank you so much, Sally!
Donna M.