Experiencing God's Presence #148

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings.

Philippians 3:10, NIV

We tend to interpret adversity in terms of what God is teaching us—patience, submission, forgiveness, etc.—but could our trials serve a much greater purpose than training us in the right attitudes? I believe Jesus often speaks deep words to us:

“I’m allowing this pain to teach you some things, but not for the reasons you think. When you have to yield to difficult circumstances, show humility in the face of evil, feel the sting of rejection, suffer long delays, patiently endure insults and injustice and being misunderstood, or withstand obstacles and intense trials, I’m not just building your character. I’m giving you glimpses of Me. Every time you think of My story now, you will better understand what I went through. You will have tasted My adversity. I’ve longed for you to be able to put your arms around Me and say, ‘Jesus, I know how it feels.’ I’m sharing My heart with you. This is the fellowship of My suffering. I don’t enjoy your pain, but I really enjoy your fellowship. And I want you to know My heart. But remember that the joy of My resurrection is more real than the pain of My rejection. And I am eager to share that with you too.”

Our hardships are about much more than teaching us lessons in character. In nearly everything we go through, we can find some connecting point with Jesus’ heart. We’ve been rejected? We can relate to His rejection. We’re jealous for someone’s love? We can bond with Him in His jealousy for ours. And on and on. If we let Him, He imparts His heart to us in everything we endure.

Jesus, I want to know Your heart, and the only way for that to happen is to experience some of what You went through. Please help me never squander those opportunities and learn to feel what You have felt.

From the book