Living life with a sense of peace does not eliminate suffering.  What I have found is having inner peace grounds me for any and all suffering that comes my way.   

When my late husband died people said I was strong.  It was not my strength it was my inner peace knowing that whatever suffering comes my way Jesus will ground me and show me how to move through the chaos.

That time was not without suffering, but I was able to move forward because I chose to rely on something greater than myself.  I gave control to Jesus and believed things would work out if I stayed the course.  

On my own I don’t have the strength to get through suffering, I have the ability to surrender to Jesus and relinquish control.  The inner peace that centers my life makes it easy to stay the course.  The moment I am moving in the wrong direction stress and anxiety begin to interfere with my inner peace.

Jesus learned to be obedient through his suffering.   Most of us would not choose to suffer.  But it’s what you do with the moments or the lifetime of suffering that makes the difference.

How do you respond to suffering?  Do you allow suffering to wear you down or do you choose to push through the suffering and give control to Jesus?

There are times when suffering is visible through sadness or some type of “crutch”.  Yet so often deep suffering goes undetected by many.  There are times when I see suffering in people at a deeper level.  Suffering within people who appeared to have a completely together life, yet deal with a challenge every day.

Most of us suffer in some way.  I believe that suffering gets us closer to knowing, understanding, and relying on Jesus.  Whether it is watching your spouse, parent, child, or friend struggle for their life or if you are directly experiencing the suffering, when we surrender the door opens for inner peace.

Our struggles get us closer to giving control to Jesus.  I have experienced much suffering, yet at the same time I have lived with peace.  Jesus unconditionally has control of my life.  It’s not negotiable.  

I have let suffering affect my life for moments, but I don’t like how that feels. I lose my sense of peace.  As I give control back to Jesus, my suffering does not necessarily leave, but peace fills my body.  I believe, without a doubt, that we can move through the suffering in peace.

During difficult times we often seek Jesus.  When we allow him to take control we open the door to inner peace.  When we surrender to and thank Jesus we are able to move through suffering with love and maintain inner peace. 

Click here to stay connected.