Man of Sorrows

    ...he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
        and no beauty that we should desire him.
    He was despised and rejected by men;
        a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
    and as one from whom men hide their faces
        he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
                                                                        (Isaiah 53:2-3)


Man of Sorrows.
Jesus did not come in hopes of living the American Dream, only to find that life was hard.
He came knowing that his life would be one of sorrows.
A life of difficulty, of grief, of being despised and rejected by men.

Jesus also did not come in order to help us live the American Dream.
He came to save sinners and to make them like Himself.
He was not a man continually depressed, morose, grumpy at life.
He was a man who lived for his Father, gladly, every moment.
His joy did not come from his circumstances.
It came from loving his Father and knowing his Father's love.
It came from trusting that his Father was with him, would care for him, and would do all things well.

This is what He calls us to do.
To live for Him - for our Savior - gladly, every moment.
With our joy coming from Him, from loving Him and knowing His love, despite our circumstances.
Joy that comes from trusting that Jesus is with us, caring for us, and doing all things well.

Perhaps the reason I have resented my disabled child
(you're not supposed to say that, but it's the truth of a sinful heart)
Is that he makes it impossible for me to live an easy, convenient life.

Someone has said that the American culture tells us "you should not have to suffer" -
That you deserve a life where you can remove all suffering, all pain.
A life where you can make it to that dream,
That place where you have a nice home, a nice family, a nice job, a nice retirement, and nice health.

But that place is found only in Heaven.
And it is not reached by striving to remove all our pains here,
By searching for that perfect job and perfect life that will be all pleasure.

To live for Jesus!
Oh, that I would have that mind all the time.
It gives joy in every situation, knowing that Jesus desires me to be there.
And joy in every child, knowing that each one comes from His hand.
That each one really is a gift.  A good gift.