“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
In my healing recovery, I had the benefit of always pursuing Christ. I did not run from him even for a moment in my suffering and shame, but rather, to him. This is a great benefit, and I remember first internalizing this blessing with this phrase, “Jesus walks you over suffering.” It’s not that the suffering does not exist, but it has a disconnected and secondary nature to it. It is before you but obscured by the beauty of Christ. I have grown to understand that this acknowledgment of suffering’s secondary nature comes from the reality of the usefulness of suffering and the supreme excellence of Christ Himself. It is through suffering that one grows and develops, becoming like Christ and moving towards what Christ has purposed. And nothing worth doing is ever easy, as the turn of phrase goes. Our Savior set this very example for us. He endured the cross for the sake of the joy of it. He knew He would be saving us all. He knew that He would be exalted. He knew that He would sit at the right hand of the throne God. And there He sits now, in all the glory of the aftermath of the cross.
What is the aftermath of YOUR cross? For what joy can you endure the sufferings of your own depravity? While many might find this a hard topic to think about, I find it eternally uplifting. That my suffering can reside in the secondary places of my life. Obscured by the beauty of Christ and the glorious purpose of my divine direction. I hope you will follow the example of our Savior and remain in recovery “for the joy” of it. A place of belonging with Father God. As dearly loved children.