Last night I was thinking about how we go through trials that test us, and that is a lot of what I have been telling you all, especially that we need to persevere through those times. And though that is very true, I wanted to touch on the part where we obtain what we have diligently sought after.
For the joy that was set before Christ Jesus (the joy was us in Him and Him in us) He endured the cross. And the word endured means that what He went through was hard, but because He saw what was ahead He was able to endure suffering for the present time.
In the same way we are to look at the joy before us. But we are not to look at it as something far away and only something that we can 'dream' about. But we are to look at it as though we were just minutes away from obtaining it. Cause we are!
I think it is really important is to look back at prayers that God has answered and to see that, yes there was suffering, while you were waiting for the answer, but when the answer came the joy was so worth the trial.
And as well I think it very important to look at the joy and not the trail. Our Father loves giving us joy and that abundantly! And if we focus on the trail then we will be bogged down and discouraged, that is why we look at the goodness of God, His joy.
So I just wanted to encourage you all that the joy FAR exceeds the suffering, and that it is definitely worth it to persevere.
So don't give up praying for Skandar. And what ever else you are needing to persevere through, DON'T GIVE UP.
--Benjamin
