9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9-17, NLT)
We were made for worship.
We were made for intimacy.
We were made to experience love in a wholly perfect way.
Our suffering is not God punishing us when we fail to meet a self-imposed set of expectations about what we should do. Jesus simply wants us to be available to Him, to listen to Him as best we can, and to be willing to surrender all things to Him.
He wants us to love Him, to love His Word, and to love other believers. He understands that we wrestle, that we yearn, and that we are imperfect. That is why we often find ourselves in seasons of waiting or testing. These seasons prune us and help us become more aligned with Jesus and His will for our lives, enabling us to live with Him at the center.
Honestly, I don’t think any of us ever fully “arrive.” Our human nature constantly reminds us that we are “thin” in faith, trying to do things ourselves. But this is where the grace of Jesus meets us. He knows our efforts are completely insufficient. Even in our inadequacy, His grace covers us. He invites us to participate and grow with Him, and to work alongside other believers in this world.
Remember, Jesus chose you. He loves you. He died for you. You are appointed, forgiven, justified, and constantly being corrected and refined, even though you still remain sinful. There is no working your way out of human nature. Redemption, healing, and justification come only from recognizing that we need a Savior—and His life, death, and resurrection have washed us clean and reconciled us to God.
In that truth, we can rest, knowing we are redeemed and have the power of Christ within us to walk out whatever God calls us to.
Encourage One Another
Let’s encourage one another as we wrestle with the sin of our own nature and the sin of our culture. Let us be kind, meek, and gentle, knowing that everyone is fighting a battle. Let’s show others the same grace that Jesus shows us—unmerited favor and love.
Chin up, friends. This lifetime is short. Suffering is temporary, but peace through Christ is eternal.
Reflection Questions
Where is God inviting you to surrender today?
What helps you stay grounded in God’s grace during seasons of suffering?
