I am so quick to wonder why I must suffer...and very eager to be rid of suffering when it comes into my life. Imagine Mary's suffering. She knew from the get go that her child was special, but little did she know what would befall Him. "But Mary kept all these things...pondering them," the book of Luke tells us when prophets would tell Mary of the great things her child would do for Israel and the gentiles. What must she have imagined. What terrible thoughts Satan must have thrown at her in an attempt to get her to live in fear.
Satan is very persistent in his attempts to get us to believe the worst. And it seems the more we work to focus on hope, the more persistent his attacks become. 'This, too, shall pass' I must continue to tell myself. Look at the good that came from Mary's suffering. I must trust that good will come and I will be stronger and closer to God for having gone through.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn from evil. It WILL be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. ~Proverbs 3:7-8