wrestling with His suffering...

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist,

in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their

salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

He was perfected... through... suffering...

The thought came to mind as I prayed for college students today... in Moms In Prayer...

The verse selected by the leader... for praying scripturally for our students was...

See to it that no one takes you captive

through hollow and deceptive philosophy,

which depends on human tradition

and the basic principles of this world

rather than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8

My thoughts turned to the deceptiveness of worldly success... material gain... creature comforts... and the prayer it came... Remind him... that You were perfected through suffering... success according to the world does not necessarily lead to his good or Your glory...

Now... afterwards... I'm wondering... wrestling... with that prayer...

No one wants to see their children suffer...

He didn't want to see His Son suffer...

The images of The Passion still fresh in my mind... make me cringe... when I place my own children... in those scenes...

He was perfected... through... suffering...

Grateful... He has done it...

Thankful He lives... in each one of my children...

He knows... how to suffer... For the joy set before Him...

and each can rely on His strength... when the time comes...

...the One who is in you is greater

than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 HCSB

Yet... to consider suffering... as the way to perfection...

to say with Paul... 

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection

and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings...

Philippians 3:10

...is a difficult thing...

But... because He did... 

because there was apparently no other way...

I pray...

Father... if it be possible... let this cup pass from my children...

but nevertheless... if that is the only way... for them to know You...

not as I will... but as You will...