Jesus suffered in every way as we do, but we will never suffer the way He did. When He hung between Heaven and Hell, the Father could not look on Him because He had our sin on Him. That’s when Jesus said, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)
What are the first words out of your mouth in hard times? In the past, my first words were curse words. Praise God, He forgave me for all those times. Yet, in the midst of Christ’s suffering on the cross, He quoted Psalm 22:1, Scripture written more than a thousand years before Jesus. It is worthwhile to memorize verses from God’s word so that when hard times come, that is what we say.
THINK ABOUT IT
Have you ever felt abandoned? No one knows better what that feels like than Jesus. He was persecuted, rejected, abandoned, ridiculed, spit on, beaten and crucified. That was the price He paid for our redemption. Jesus cried out to the Father what He truly felt from the cross. He said, “The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Matthew 12:34).
Jesus was honest. He spoke about His real feelings, but He quoted Scripture that defined His suffering. This means that in our deepest, darkest moments of despair, we can be honest with God. May what comes out in our despair be the overflow of our hearts.
PRAY ABOUT IT
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, His teaching, sacrifice and presence in our lives. Help us to focus on your word so we might glorify you even during hard times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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