Christ suffered for me, and even wants to suffer with me.

I'm sure most people have heard the term, wallowing-as in wallowing in pain or wallowing in sorrow. Today, I have been convicted of wallowing in comfort. It's not just laziness or procrastination but a sense of having peace and comfort in the midst of trials but instead of continuing on to climb higher, I found myself wanting to bask in God's comfort a little longer. The last time I got off my knees, I felt comforted, encouraged and refreshed. I know I should return daily to that place of seeking God and seeking His guidance but I found myself taking my new found strength and applying it else where. Though I felt some nagging in the back of my head, I told myself, "I'm OK, I'm walking with the Lord and He is in control. God loves me ta la la la la. As if I shouldn't have to keep bothering myself and Him with my issues. Then it hit me. Oops I forgot it's my turn to do the blog! As I read today's reading on Christ's suffering, I was reminded that while Christians are called to suffer for many reasons, I can relate to suffering on how it keeps me depending on God. It keeps me looking to Jesus as my shepherd. I am thankful to Jesus for leading me closer to Him. However, I am also convicted from wanting to remain in the place of comfort and peace. I am reluctant to bring up all the things within me that are uncertain, burdensome, or painful and lay them down at His feet on a daily basis. I feel great that God has answered some of my prayers but instead of being satisfied, I feel Christ giving me a nudge to say "let's keep working".

I am humbled to realize that Christ suffered so much to accomplish God's will on earth. Not only that, He is willing to suffer with me until God's will is finished in me. He has patience I don't even have for myself. He is willing to accept the burdens that I am reluctant to lift up to Him. For this I am less afraid of being in a place of suffering because I know Christ is with me.