The Cup of Suffering
One of the hardest things in life is when we have to endure pain and suffering. Most often this comes in the form of physical illness and suffering. However, it can come from losing a loved one or from relationship difficulties. When these things happen to cause us pain, we are often quick to pray and ask God to take it away. Sometimes, He takes it away and sometimes He doesn't. When He doesn't, we can get upset with God, if we don't understand a very important aspect of suffering. Of course, Jesus understood about suffering. He gave us a great example of how to pray when we are facing pain. (Luke 22:42) "Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet, I want Your will to be done, not Mine." Jesus knew He could ask the Father to take away the suffering of being beaten and crucified, because the Father loved Him and cared about Him. However, He also knew that it might be God's will for Him to suffer, so He submitted to God...