Jesus looked beyond the cross knowing His sacrifice and brutal death would save millions, billions of people. In the midst of this horrendous suffering He experienced an unbelievable joy of knowing that a huge number of people would gain eternal life. “Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross…..” (Hebrews 12:2).
Like Jesus we too must endure our suffering knowing the more we suffer here on earth the greater our joy will be in the afterlife. Knowing this our pain, our hurts, and distress becomes more bearable. It was Jesus’ love for us that he willingly sacrificed His life on the cross. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13). It’s our love of Jesus that will enable us to endure more suffering than we ever imagined.
Suffering with love and grace will bring the joy that goes beyond the cross, and if we can bring that joy to another person it makes our suffering bearable. When we focus more on the joy Jesus gives us, we take the focus away from our pain and distress. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full,” (John 15:11). My hope and prayer is that we find joy through our suffering, love and blessings! Carby
The One-Minute Prisoner 