Well Pleased

It’s so tempting to believe that all of this suffering is a sign of God’s disfavor. It’s hard not to think that God must be angry or displeased with us in some way. Why else would He allow our wombs to stay closed when He, with His very own Word, can call light into existence, heal the blind, raise Lazarus from the dead, and speak Christ into Mary’s virgin womb?

But we know that suffering in this life is not a sign of God’s displeasure with us, His beloved children.

How do we know this to be true?

Because Jesus suffered more than any of us, and God said of Him, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

We are baptized into that beloved Son, and God is now well-pleased with us, too. God loves us in His Son, and there is nothing – not even barrenness – that can separate us from God’s love and blessed favor.

We simply suffer along with Jesus, as our mortified flesh awaits its raising.

Let us suffer here with Jesus
And with patience bear our cross.
Joy will follow all our sadness;
Where He is, there is no loss.
Though today we sow no laughter,
We shall reap celestial joy;
All discomforts that annoy
Shall give way to mirth hereafter.
Jesus, here I share Your woe;
Help me there Your joy to know.*