Whips and Suffering

It has been a hard week.  I lost my brother to cancer last Sunday.  While we knew he had cancer we never expected it to move this fast and literally within a week of hearing there was an issue I was saying goodbye.  I have run through so many emotions, but today as I was driving I began to think about the pain that comes from this world.  Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it agonizes.  It got me thinking about upcoming Good Friday.  My Savior being whipped over and over, skin tearing from his flesh, knowing what was to come, knowing how heavy the burden and each lash bringing immediate pain. 

God never promised we wouldn't suffer, in fact His word often reminds us in this world we will suffer.  It even says to count it all joy when we suffer.  We serve a king who knows what its like and can relate to the suffering. 

Sometimes in my life it has felt like a whip has been taken to my soul, sometimes like now and when my mother died it was an agonizing lash, sometimes when I was diagnosed with numerous chronic conditions its painful, when I suffered a miscarriage and struggled in pregnancy and when my marriage was struggling the lashes seemed to carry on and on.  However as I stood and took my lashes with my mouth silenced due to fate, I followed in the steps of my Father.  I know who wins the war and I won't let the lashes of the enemy's sinful world change my steps. 

The enemy may laugh and mock while the tears run down my cheeks and the lashes may feel so deep I can't move forward or so constant I can't stand up to carry my cross, but again my Savior gave me an example, he is there to help me lift it and keep going.  The enemy's came to steal, lie, kill and destroy.  Those lies did not write my brother's story and it shall not write mine.  I shall stand as he did bravely taking lash after lash, standing silent because I know the victory can not compare to the pain inflicted.