My cup's status

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Dear Lord,

You say that in this cup are many blessings. You say that I am blessed in abundance, that my cup is filled til overflowing.

I think of the Pharisees that are compared to white-washed tombs because they are clean on the outside but on the inside they are rotten. Their cups are washed only on the outside, but inside they are stained with dirt. It is by grace alone that I have been saved and thus cleansed on the inside.

On hard days, I am reminded more of Jesus' cup of suffering, how he asked You to remove this cup from Him, the cup of suffering, but he added, let not my will but your will be done, and so it came that Jesus had to suffer death by crucifixion - oh what a dreadful end, my Father, if it weren't for His glorious resurrection, our hope of eternal life in heaven. Thank you.

Most of the time when I think of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, I feel so sorry that he had to go through that pain. It is as though I remain there, angry that he had to go through that, questioning why he had to go through such a painful death. Why? I ask God. Why? Why couldn't he just die the way a lamb without blemish died - one slash to the throat and it was dead. Why did he have to suffer? What glory does suffering bring to Your name? I don't understand. Please reveal to me why suffering is necessary. I trust your answer will follow soon.

What I know is that the cost of his life bought me mine. And for that I am grateful. I think of the story behind the song "It is well with my soul" - how one can lose everything, but if you have salvation, your soul is at rest, and that is good.

So in my cup are blessings of family, friends, work, health, gratitude and salvation, but also suffering, lack of understanding and sadness. But I know even the things that cause tears to drop into my cup are ultimately for God's glory, for He says to rejoice when you are going through trials of many kinds because the testing of your faith brings about perseverance, so I can be mature and lack nothing. Amen.

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