The Lord was pleased to crush him severely. —Isaiah 53:10
I have prayer journals full of the beauty Christ has shown me in the darkest hours of my life. Several years ago, in the thick of chemotherapy, I sensed the Spirit impressing truth upon my heart:
I know this is hard. I know what it means week after week to sit in that chair. But I am here. With you. I’ve chosen you, beloved—to bring you nearer to Me.
I have everything you need for this journey. And I have poured out my Spirit on you, given you joy and peace and purpose like never before. I’m changing you, freeing you, blessing you. Your job is to hide yourself in Me and watch Me work on your behalf.
And as I’ve watched my only son suffer mysterious illnesses, I’ve understood a bit more of God’s sacrificial love for me. He too was a parent who was anguished over watching His only Son suffer. Only He chose to do it so that I could be forgiven and healed and treasured and free.
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“You Are Invited . . . by Suffering” (Colleen Chao, ReviveOurHearts.com/blog)
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
How have you seen the beauty of Jesus during dark times?