“Matthew 16:21-26: Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”
23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”
24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?”
This morning as I poured my heart before the Lord in prayer for some personal challenges that were weighing my heart down, He gave me this powerful revelation through the scripture before me in my reading today. I pray it encourages you where you are at now.
Are you burdened with a heavy weight of problems? Are you alarmed or discouraged by the amount of suffering you have been through? Are you looking at all the challenges around you and feeling overwhelmed because this mountain before you seems to never move away? Perhaps you are entering into a season where, like Jesus, you are falsely accused for something you have not done. Perhaps you are surrounded by people who are envious of you because of the way God works in your life and they are trying to defame you and make you look bad. I don’t know what your situation is, my friend. But here is what this powerful passage before us reveals to us: Jesus was fully aware of the dangers that were about to befall Him. He knew of every trap the religious leaders had laid before Him. Yet instead of trying to save His own skin and walk away, He recognised this as part of God’s Sovereign plan. He walked right into that season knowing fully well the outcome- that God has this. That it would be for His Glory. That God will win in the end. That God will turn things around and make every suffering and sorrow to be for His greater purpose.
Friends, if you have given your life to Christ, you must trust Him to lead. He will drive you into places that seem to be brimming with suffering and challenges. But brace yourselves for the ride by staying close to Jesus. Stay close to Him and trust Him to bring everything you are facing or are about to face to be for your greater good and for the good of those He has entrusted to you.
The world is so focussed on the SELF. On looking at ever challenge under a microscopic lens. On dissecting every problem and trying to make sense of every ordeal. On feeling miserable when things do not go as planned. On trying to make every effort to solve the situation with human reasoning and understanding. In the worldly sense, suffering is seen as an enemy. We lament and cry when we find ourselves entangled and chocked by sorrowful events.
But here is what: that is NOT how God works! God sometimes takes us into seasons of suffering! He works through suffering!! He does not get rid of suffering. When Peter suggested that Jesus would never ever go through suffering, Jesus rebuked him and said “Get behind me Satan!” Suffering is meant to humble us and refine us and remind us that in the end, God has us and will see us through.
God’s Word is crystal clear. Unless you deny your self and sacrifice your self on the altar of complete surrender to God, you can never truly find your true self. Your true self is hidden in the person of Christ from the moment you made the decision to follow Him. He must lead. You must allow Him to lead. Even into places riddled with suffering. Take heart. For there is no suffering that Jesus has not experienced. He feels your pain and He is whispering ever so gently to hold on for just a little longer while He turns this mess you find yourselves in into a powerful message.
Surrender, oh sweet friend your sorrows and burdens. Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you.
Here is a song for you. I pray it ministers to your hearts.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I place my “self”, my every suffering this season onto Your altar of absolute surrender. I don’t want to run away from the season of suffering I am in now. I want to embrace it. I want to follow You. I want You to stay close to me through this storm. I want to fix my eyes on You Jesus and relinquish from the driver’s seat of my life today and every day of my life. Lead me Heavenly Father through every place You have ordained for me. In Your Matchless Name I ask, amen.