The Blood of Jesus & Confidence for Today — Broken & Hopeful

Often I want to skip the suffering of the cross and go straight to the glory of Easter morning, when Jesus rose from the dead and presented Himself in victory to those who surrounded Him throughout His earthly ministry. I want the celebration without the fight. I want the promises of God to come to fruition without having to wait for them. Basically, I want the easy way out.

Mike Wells used to say that we learn in contrast. We don’t know true joy if we haven’t also experienced pain. We don’t need to look for peace if we haven’t dealt with confusion and agony. My desire is often to skip the hard circumstances, but then I don’t fully accept or appreciate the beauty of the Life of Christ within. I wish I did, but I’m hardheaded enough where I need the difficulty to look for Him. And perhaps you are too.

When Jesus died on the cross and covered us with His blood sacrifice, He did more than remove the brokenness that kept us from relationship with God. He also displayed His entrance into the suffering of each day with us. He showed His heart, which is to hurt with us. He is compassionate and not disconnected in our pain. He is merciful, kind and patient.

So, how do we deal with the Fridays of suffering before the Sundays of rejoicing?

1. Identify the Lie and Don’t Buy it

I think one of the greatest lies of the enemy in our broken world is that God is disconnected and uncaring. That He stands aloof to our suffering. That He doesn’t enter into the sorrow and pain. Or even worse, that He somehow enjoys letting us hurt.

But take a look at the verses at the end of this post for a reminder that none of that is true. He loves us and suffers with us in the hard circumstances, just like a parent aches with their children when they are in pain that can’t be avoided.

2. Don’t Think You Have to Have Enough Strength For It On Your Own

I don’t like suffering. I want to avoid pain at all costs. And yet God asks that I enter the struggle of this life with His strength for a purpose that I don’t really understand. I do see the sweetness of time with Him when in suffering, though, and recognize the depth it brings to my relationship with Him. 

In being reminded of my weakness, I can be pushed back to His Life within me, which has all that I need for each circumstance of today.

3. Remember Sunday Is Coming!

Sometimes we get in the mindset that the struggle is forever, that life will always look like this. I think the disciples of Jesus probably got really discouraged after His death on the cross, assuming that was the end of all the work of God through Jesus. And wondering why they wasted a few years of their lives following Him just to watch Him die. 

But Sunday came and Jesus was risen! And the joy set before us is coming also. We don’t always know what it will look like, but He does not leave us in the suffering forever. Joy is coming. Relief is coming. Hold on to Him in the middle and you will be in a much better place by that time. 

Whatever the struggle is in your darkness today, whatever Good Friday looks like for you– remember your old life is crucified and dead while your new Life in Christ is alive. You don’t have to believe you can make it through your present circumstance on your own strength. You get to trust the One who will carry you through. The blood of Jesus wipes away the past, and His Life within gives confidence for today.

You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in your bottle—not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of remembrance. Psalm 56:8

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and eliminate death entirely. No one will mourn or weep any longer. The pain of wounds will no longer exist, for the old order has ceased. Revelation 21:4

In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9

So then, we must cling in faith to all we know to be true. For we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose into the heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty. He understands humanity, for as a Man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness. Hebrews 4:14-16

Lord, you’re so kind and tenderhearted to those who don’t deserve it and so patient with people who fail you! Your love is like a flooding river overflowing its banks with kindness. Psalm 103:8