Obedience Through Suffering

"In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered." Hebrews 5:7-8

Who wants to suffer? Nobody that I know. Jesus didn't. The Bible tells us that the night of His arrest just before His beatings and crucifixion, Jesus prayed, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. And being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood dropping to the ground." Luke 22:42-44

Jesus certainly understands our pain when we suffer. But the passage in Hebrews says He learned obedience through His suffering. And how did He learn that? By praying, "Nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) We are told an angel came and strengthened Him. For us that strengthening comes through the Comforter,or Helper, the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7)

The question for us is are we able to say, like Jesus, nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done? Are we able to continue to believe God is good even when we don't see it? Are we willing to surrender our hurts, our emotions, our fears, our doubts to the sovereignty of God? Is it easy? No! But obedience and a deeper relationship with Jesus is the result..."that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death," (Philippians 3:10)