Verse of the Day - John 11:33

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
~ John 11:33 (NIV)

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I'm sure you've experienced this: You see someone or even hear someone crying, and it can make you cry, too. Your heart is moved by their emotion, their pain. Do you wonder why that is? Well, it could be because we are made in the image of God, and He is moved by emotion, by the pain of humanity. He cries, too.

You may be going through some really trying, painful times right now, and I want you to know that Jesus cries with you. You are not alone if you have Jesus. He sees and hears all that you're going through. Many things in this life really suck, to be blunt, and His life was no exception. He suffered greatly, from loneliness of missing His Father to the excruciating torture from angry men. He knows what it's like to cry tears of emotion, both for Himself and for others, like His dear friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. You, also, are His dear friend, if you are His follower.

Please confide in your divine Confidante -- Jesus, the lover of your soul. Lean on His loving shoulders and pour out your pain into His loving ears. Let Him do a divine work in your life, so that you can come out on the other side, whole and well, able to praise God for His amazing love and restoration.

Never think that your negative and difficult times are wasted. God uses our life experiences to test our faith -- are we committed to Him for real, or does our faith wither in the face of difficulty? Do we trust Him, or give in to worry and despair?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Some tests are difficult. Some exams are downright grueling. But we must take the challenge, so that we grow spiritually on to maturity. Little kids cry when they get a sliver; adults might not even notice they have a sliver. We need to take on the challenges and learn from God what it means to endure hardships as discipline/teaching, what it means to give thanks in all things, what it means to know without a shadow of a doubt that God loves us even when life is at its worst. To go from a child to an adult in spiritual matters.

Jesus cries with us, but He also takes us by the hand and helps us keep going. He is not about to let us sit in a heap of tears and refuse to go on. I pray you can take His hand today and start walking with Him, tears and all.

Love,
Joelene