Receive the Cup of Sorrow

Receive the Cup of Sorrow

"Shall I refuse to drink the cup of sorrow which the Father has given me to drink?" (John 18:11, Weymouth).

God takes a thousand times more pains with us than the artist with his picture, by many touches of sorrow, and by many colors of circumstance, to bring us into the form which is the highest and noblest in His sight, if only we receive His gifts of myrrh in the right spirit.

But when the cup is put away, and these feelings are stifled or unheeded, a greater injury is done to the soul that can ever be amended. For no heart can conceive in what surpassing love God giveth us this myrrh; yet this which we ought to receive to our souls' good we suffer to pass by us in our sleepy indifference, and nothing comes of it.

Then we come and complain: "Alas, Lord! I am so dry, and it is so dark within me!" I tell thee, dear child, open thy heart to the pain, and it will do thee more good than if thou wert full of feeling and devoutness.  --Tauler

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I can surely relate with the those who have experienced the darkness of sorrows and griefs. There seems to be nothing pleasant amidst the pain. A superficial evaluation of the struggle and difficulties reveals no intrinsic value. However, when you understand that the struggle has come to build, not tear down. When you understand that the heartache has come to strengthen not destroy; you will get a glimpse into the power of pain.

Dr. Rick Wallace

The pain is from the hand of God sculpting the masterpiece that you will become. The heartache is the result of God pruning away all that is not beneficial or conducive to the final product. There is a natural proclivity to attempt  to circumvent life's struggles in search of a life of comfort, but there is no reward in sidestepping suffering, because it is in the flames of testing that we are purified and proven. It is during the long winds of suffering that the intricate details of the masterpiece that is us is hewed out.

I know that the pain can, at times, be excruciating. The loneliness can be stifling. Understand this, God is in the midst of the mayhem working miracles. You will look back one day and realize that the heartache took you to new heights. You will realize that the darkness increase your light. You will find that the struggles expedited your elevation. It is okay to drink from the cup of sorrow for it produces greatness. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace