Lent Day 34: Thankful for sorrows

I'm reading the familiar passage of Jesus wounded for us.

If I had no sorrows or pains to bear, would I be as grateful that He paid the debt and lifted the burden of them from me?

A speaker at NU told of the view of China's government officials that the United States was blessed because it followed Christian principles. They see the decline of America as a consequence of abandoning those values.

Yet we are blind. We are full. Sated with our perception of "the good life," so that we forget the Man of Sorrows and are surprised at any grief or hardship. Outsiders often see what a culture misses. May we return to the cross and its wealth this week––with grateful hearts that love God and love others as ourselves.

Read more:

*He is despised and rejected by men,  

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:3-5 NKJV

*Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Psalm 105:3

*Why do you look for the living among the dead? Luke 24:5

Moravian Prayer: Blessed Savior, hear our prayer of rejoicing for your gift of the promise of new life. Let us learn to trust in your path and lighten our hearts with joy. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.