Lowly, Sad, Suffering, and Weak? Who wants that?

Lowly, Sad, Suffering, and Weak? Who wants it?

But, if you’ve got some of that, you are not alone! Jesus is with you and Jesus “gets” you! His friend, Paul, does too.

LOWLY: It’s encouraging that Jesus urges, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” (Matthew 11:30) If Jesus is lowly then it must be okay for us to experience lowliness too.

SAD: It’s calming when Isaiah describes the Messiah, Jesus, as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3) If Jesus is such a person, then it must be okay for us to experience sadness and grief too.

SUFFERING: It’s comforting that we can share in the “fellowship in his [Jesus’] sufferings.” (Philippians 3:10) We scoot close and hear Jesus assure us that he’s been right where we are in our suffering experience (Luke 10:39). Then we can feel so safe, understood, and loved.

WEAK: It’s enriching to learn of Paul’s great discovery as he writes, “Therefore, I rejoice in weakness; for when I am weak then I am strong. “ (2 Corinthians 12:9) If Paul felt weak and learned the strength of that, then we can too!

Human weakness calls us into God’s holy and healthy strength. The lowly learn to live high in Jesus! The sad find deeper joy in Jesus. The suffering ones find deeper fellowship in Jesus. The weak find their true strength in Jesus!

Please leave your comment below to encourage others in our community of practice. And/Or, write to me personally and confidentially by clicking reply.

Giv’m heaven! John Parker

P.S. Please save November 15-16 for your Simple Church Listening Meet-Up with us in Los Gatos and Prayer Mountain in Scotts Valley, California