Scriptures: John 11:35, Psalms 30:5, Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 5:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Hope Over Pain 

Jesus started crying . . . 

John 11:35 (CEV) 

So much pain. Pain that physically hurts in the bones, taints the taste of food, dulls the colors of the world. All people want is for it to stop. Although some seem to take comfort in going lower, deeper into depression. 

But pain lies. Depression is not the cure. Hurting yourself is not the answer. 

Jesus’s friend Lazarus died of an illness. Even though Jesus knew he had the power to resurrect him—and would soon show that power—Jesus still cried. He cried for the suffering. The separation. The fallenness of this world. He cried because it’s not the way it’s supposed to be. God the Father doesn’t want sadness, death, and separation for his children. 

After he wept, he prayed. Then, with a simple command, Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead. 

Jesus understands our pain and suffering. He hates the things that have caused all these tears. But his grief is not hopeless. And because of him, we know death and our depression and pain will be defeated! He paid that price when he died on the cross. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, this hope is yours now, too! 

Don’t let your pain and grief make you feel hopeless. They won’t last forever. Turn to Jesus. Know that he weeps with you, but he also points towards an everlasting hope! 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

An old saying goes “Joy shared is twice the joy. Sorrow shared is half the sorrow.” Who can you talk to about your pain? Who needs you to listen to them about their pain? Make a prayer list, and then pray every day this week for the people on it. Take the initiative to ask someone to pray for you this week. And let the people you are praying for know that you are thinking of them as well. 

INSPIRATION 

“Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.” 

—Charles Spurgeon, English pastor and author in the 1800s 

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Psalms 130:3-4, Isaiah 53:5-6, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 3:4-5

A Perfect Example 

Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so Christ could make us acceptable to God. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 (CEV) 

What do we do with evil? What is the solution to obvious, hateful, cruel sin? When we can answer that, there is hope for the world. 

Without that answer, we are doomed. Even within ourselves we see the tendency to sin—to lash out, to say careless and cruel things, to only take care of ourselves. No one is perfect, and so we have no way to conquer sin. 

Jesus is the solution. He came to Earth and lived a sinless, perfect life. He conquered all greed, selfishness, and hate. He showed us how to love perfectly. He showed us how to be holy like God. 

And thankfully, he didn’t stop at just being a perfect example. When we invite him into our lives, he changes us with his power, not ours. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can desire to do good and turn from evil. He transforms our lives now, and he promises eternal rewards. 

And with him in our lives, we can change the world around us. We can truly love others. We can help the hurting. Jesus can break through the despair of shame, the suffocating anxiety, the numbness of hopelessness. 

Jesus is the only true hope for our world. Without him, we are drowning in evil and the consequences of it. Only he can change us and our communities. We can bravely follow a Savior like that! 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Imagine a world with less evil. What are some things you would like to see gone forever? Bullying? Human trafficking? Violence? Pick a topic to pray about and ask God how he wants to use you to help. 

INSPIRATION 

“There’s more grace in God’s heart than there is sin in your past.” 

—Erwin W. Lutzer, Canadian pastor, speaker, and author 

Scriptures: John 10:18, Isaiah 53:4-6, Isaiah 53:11-12, Matthew 26:53-54, Philippians 2:6-8

The God Who Died 

No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do. 

John 10:18 (CEV) 

A father sacrifices his perfect son so that his other kids don’t have to suffer the punishment for what they did wrong? That might seem messed up. 

But that’s not the full story. 

Jesus tried several times to explain to his disciples what would soon happen to him. In John 10, he compares himself to a good shepherd who loves and cares for the sheep. 

Jesus was not just a good man who was willing to do the right thing for the sake of others. No, Jesus and God are one—the same person. And Jesus volunteered. He decided to die for us even before he was sent to Earth. 

Jesus chose to take on all the punishment for our thoughtless and rebellious sin. He put the guilt, the shame, the ugliness on himself. He died the awful death we deserved. 

Why would he do such a thing? Because of a love for us that is so great, so deep, so full, so perfect. So, when we think of his death on the cross, remember it’s not just a death or a tragic loss. Rather, we’re watching God, as a human being, step forward to sacrifice himself and then have the power to come back from the grave. And that makes all the difference. 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Write out the words from today’s verse that stick out to you, and as you do, spend some time praying through those words.

INSPIRATION 

“The Gospel is that Jesus Christ came to Earth, lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died.” 

—Timothy Keller, American pastor and author from New York City 

Scriptures: Matthew 10:39, Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 53:12, Romans 6:13, 1 John 3:16

What Will You Do? 

“If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.” 

Matthew 10:39 (CEV) 

So, what are you going to do with your life? 

The older you get, the more you’ll hear the question. It’s expected you will pursue college, career, and achievements. People will even encourage you to look out for “number one,” namely, yourself. 

But Jesus turned that kind of thinking upside down. He said that the more you give away, the more you will receive. The more you help others, the greater your reward. And to save your life, you must first lose it. 

Jesus practiced what he preached. He modeled giving up his life. Jesus bravely left Heaven and equality with God to become a human and serve people. When he sent his followers out to spread the word about him, he told them to give their life to him in order to save their life. They went without money or ways to defend themselves or other keys to success. But by living for Jesus, they changed people’s lives and the future of the world. 

Ultimately, Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice for us by dying on the cross. We may never face losing our physical life, but he does ask us to use our days serving him. 

Giving your life to Jesus doesn’t mean all your desires will be crushed. Rather, giving him control will bring a greater reward. Bravely following him is the best life and brings eternal life! 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

There are countless examples of people who have given their lives to serve others. Research or interview your Christian hero and find out what they say about the sacrifice. 

INSPIRATION 

“God’s purpose gives life meaning.” 

—Woodrow Kroll, American evangelist, pastor, and radio host 

Scriptures: Matthew 9:36, Psalms 147:3, Isaiah 42:3, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 28:20

Strength to Care 

When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd 

Matthew 9:36 (CEV) 

Imagine you’ve lived all over. The way people act at your newest place is abnormal to you. You don’t understand what they’re talking about or why they want to do some things. And when you tell them some of your stories, they look at you like you’re from another planet. 

No one here gets you. 

Jesus can relate. He came from a place of perfection in Heaven to live with mortals amid all their suffering and sin. He tried to tell us things, but we didn’t get it. No one was like him. No one understood him. And sometimes, they treated him as if he were abnormal! 

How did Jesus respond to this? He kept turning his attention to others, not himself. Day after day, he spent his time teaching, talking, healing—loving people. He worked with them and for them to the point of physical exhaustion. And when more came to see him, he had compassion for them. 

Jesus knew his life’s mission was to serve others. Right through the agony of the cross, he kept his focus on loving God and loving people. 

And he will help us do that, too. When we’re feeling like an outsider, we can follow Jesus’s example and love others. We can connect with them by finding out what is important to them, what scares them, what brings them joy. It takes courage to care like that. Jesus can help us find that strength like he did. 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Instead of focusing on differences with people, look for ways you can say “Same!” with things you agree on. Think of a totally opposite person from you. Then consider things you have in common. This is your common ground! 

INSPIRATION 

“Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. As long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.” 

—Helen Keller, American author and speaker in the late 1800s who was blind and deaf 

Scriptures: John 10:10, Psalms 23:1-4, Ezekiel 34:15-16, John 15:9-10, Revelation 7:17

Full Life 

I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully. 

John 10:10b (CEV) 

We all want to be loved, cared for, and protected. We want someone powerful watching out for us. Someone who can see ahead, guiding us. Someone with resources taking care of us. 

Jesus is that someone. In the Gospel according to John, after Jesus healed a man, the religious leaders questioned the man and threw him out of the assembly when they didn’t like his answers. It was a power struggle; Jesus’s power might make people question their authority. 

When they confronted Jesus, he started talking about sheep. He said he loved his sheep, cared for them, protected them, guided them. He is the good shepherd who loves and cares for all the people who follow him. And, you guessed it, he’s happy when they’re healed and doesn’t kick them out of the flock. He gives them the good life, the eternal life. 

Anyone can become one of Jesus’s sheep. Just start following him, like a sheep will follow its shepherd. Join his flock. Learn to know his voice and follow his instructions. 

Life in this broken world is far from perfect for a Jesus-follower. Hard times still come, like injuries, deployments, demotions, moves, and loneliness. But to know you are loved, watched over, cared for by the great Protector—that is an amazing, full, abundant life. And the promise of eternal life means that this is only the beginning. 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

How has Jesus, your good shepherd, already blessed your life? Thank him, today!

INSPIRATION 

“It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what he is doing with us. He understands us perfectly.” 

—W. Phillip Keller, Christian author in the late 1900s