Hebrews 12: 2-3 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I'm not Jesus, but I surely need Him. I have had my share of suffering in this life, much of which I've brought on myself. I have also suffered as the result of the sins of others but I have yet to suffer in the place of another as Jesus did for me. The suffering that I endure as a child of God is discipline:

Hebrews 12:5b-6 "My son do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.

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As I am in Christ, my pain and sorrow are not pointless. They are the lessons of life through which I learn so much more about Jesus. As a Christian, I not only have the example of Jesus to follow, but I also have the person of Christ Jesus and my relationship with Him actively working in me and working all the circumstances of my life to good. I am being trained by the calamity in my life for better things and this life will not overwhelm me. "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."

2 Cor. 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

If I focus on the pain in my life, if my heart is set on the world, then the sorrow and suffering in my life produces bitterness and bitterness brings death. When my heart is set upon Jesus, repentance takes the place of the natural response of bitterness to the calamity that I face in my life and bitterness no longer has power over me. The process of repentance reveals to me the areas in my life that need to be changed so that I am enabled to overcome the circumstances over which I have no power
to exact change. Repentance is not like reform, which can be done through human strength of will, repentance is a change of heart brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit within. Through Christ in my life, I don't just learn to behave in a way that is more appropriate in any given situation, but rather the circumstance becomes a catalyst that produces actual change in me. It is through the suffering that is my life that the Potter is molding me into a new image, that of Christ. Without Jesus in my life, I would merely be a battered piece of clay.

John 12:32 "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

Jesus spoke these words to signify the death that He was about to suffer and to explain the reason why He had to die. Jesus was facing certain, excruciating death, the shameful death of a criminal. Jesus was not filled with bitterness as would be quite natural to the situation. Jesus focused upon the work of His Father, knowing that when He was lifted in death all men would be drawn to Him. By serving His Father's purpose, all would be served. As a Christian, a person bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus, I not only have the example of Jesus to follow in any given situation but the Holy Spirit of God to enable me to accomplish what God has set before me in my life.

Jesus was not a self-centered man. Jesus was God-centered. I am to be a Christ-centered woman.

Though He was tempted in all things, just as I am, Jesus' heart was set upon God, the Father. In like manner, my heart is to be set upon Jesus. Just as Jesus subjected Himself to the death that the Father had appointed to Him, I too must die daily to my own desires by subjecting them to Jesus. By this process, Christ in my life is lifted up and as Christ is lifted up, I too am lifted up. Christ Jesus lifts me above the calamity and pain in my life to a place far above human bitterness and its byproduct, death. I am lifted to a place that is Life itself, not only for me, but to a place that offers Life to all mankind.