I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Philippians 3:10

An encouraging thought:

There’s no need to despair when things are tough. We always have Jesus. In fact, it’s at times when things are bad that we come to know Jesus better than at any other time. We have something in common with him. He also suffers. And so, when we’re having a hard time and we look at Jesus and the life he lived – even when despised and rejected – we thoroughly come to know what he was like. We find that he’s with us in what we’re going through. He’s our brother.

Focusing on Jesus and what he did might draw us too to do as he did, to be as he was. What would he have us, his followers, do?

God will help us see how, despite his pain, his Son has brought a glowing light of goodness into the world. He will show us that we, too, can bring such light into our world. When we know Jesus and the love he brings, we can’t help but do the same. We share with Jesus in the suffering. And we share with him in the love we extend to others.

And that sharing of love brings healing – at times even joy – in the midst of our distress.

This is a life with Jesus.