Most people assume that when someone becomes a Christian that their lives will be a glorious paradise afterwards.

That it will be as if Christ had come and whisked them off to Heaven and they will henceforth have no more troubles in this life.

But my walk with the Lord has been just the opposite.

And from my study of scripture, the Gospel teaches that Christians should expect suffering as a normal part of their journey with Christ.

One is either called to suffer or to serve those who are suffering.

There are no two ways about it.

Jesus said, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:38-39 KJV

All God’s children are equal and the Lord has no favorites.

Jesus said, “““…You are all equal as brothers and sisters…Whoever serves you like a servant is the greatest among you. People who think they are better than others will be made humble. But people who humble themselves will be made great.” Matthew 23:8-12 ERV

I live with an autoimmune illness that causes me to suffer from chronic daily migraines. These have been all but unbearable in the past few months. But for the grace of my precious Savior, I could not survive them.

When Christ saves a soul, it is not to take us out of this world, but to help us overcome it through His power, strength and grace.

Only Christ’s presence within me enables me to survive through the darkness of this illness.

Any artist or photographer who works primarily with graphics or photography software will be familiar with a function known as the invert tool that reverses an image from light to dark.

During severe migraines all of the light goes out of my heart and it’s as if I have been transposed into a shadowland of darkness.

I cry out to Christ to reverse me back into His world of light and love where there is peace, hope, and joy.

For in the inverted world of darkness there is no joy, hope, or peace, only intense suffering and pain.

Oh Jesus, I pray! Guard my heart from the world of darkness in this place of trouble and fear and pain.

And Jesus comes and holds my hand. He is with me in the storm and guides me safely through.

For His Word promises, “…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:3-4 KJV

And He keeps every promise forever. Psalm 146:6

He promises “… I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.” Hebrews 13:5 ERV

“Be strong and be brave. Don’t be afraid of those people because the Lord your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you.””

Deuteronomy 31:6 ERV

God brings the soul who trusts in Him through their trials.

He has proved Himself faithful time and again as my saving strength.

No amount of prosperity, fame, money or anything material will purchase peace, joy, or health.

If one comes to Christ seeking Him for material blessings they will be sadly disappointed. For He is not found in secular things that can be lost in the blink of an eye. I lost my health in an instant and my world was upended in the prime of my life. Never would I have suspected that I would lose something I had taken so much for granted.

Christ is a spiritual God who will be there for the soul even when they have lost everything else in this world.

For the world and everything we see around us is passing away, and when it is gone, God will be there waiting for every child who believed, hoped, and trusted in Him all along.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 KJV

In Jesus’ name, amen.