In the previous devotional I talked about providence—that we are upheld and guided by God’s invisible hand.

It’s easy to believe in providence when everything is going your way.

But what about our moments of personal pain?

Consider Jesus and his words on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He was certainly expressing his personal anguish while he suffered intense pain for our sins. 

But he was also quoting Psalm 22. His words are an exact quote from verse one. The psalm speaks about someone who is mocked (v. 7), deserted (v. 11), faces aggressors (v. 12, 16), has their hands and feet pierced (v. 16), and whose clothes are divided by lot (v. 18). All of this happened to Jesus!

When Jesus quoted Psalm 22 I believe he was helping the rest of us better understand what was going on. It’s as if he said, ‘If you want to gain a bigger picture perspective about all of this, read the psalm to the very end.’

Starting at verse 22 the tone changes to hope and victory. The last verse proclaims not only that God has accomplished what he set out to do, but that his righteousness will be proclaimed to future generations!

All of this happened through the pain, through the torture, through the tears, through the blood, and through the nails. What looks like defeat is actually victory! 

Friends, in Christ you cannot lose because Christ has already won.

As we journey through life as Christians, we are in two places at the same time: in the middle of the race and standing victoriously at the finish line with the risen Jesus. Not even difficulty or disaster can thwart God’s good and glorious purposes for his people.

When life is good, God is good and at work. When life is hard, God is good and at work. Run confidently like the champion Christ has already made you to be.

In Christ you cannot lose because Christ has already won.

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Notes:

–Sermon: “Is it all chance or providence?” February 12, 2023. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.