“I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

“But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.” Psalm 73:28

There are so many people suffering in the world who are in need of their Lord Jesus.

Join me today in praying for those who are enduring difficult trials and tribulations. Let us pray that they may find comfort and consolation in knowing that God is especially near those who are suffering. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Remember the instructions of Our Saviour: “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 We must pray not only for those that are persecuted but also for those that persecute, for our Lord wants us to pray for all souls to be saved.

Years ago I met a beautiful woman who was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. The disease of MS had paralyzed her legs and partially paralyzed her hands and it had affected her memory and cognitive functions and one day she spoke of her suffering to me and she said something so wise. She said, “suffering purifies the soul.” She is pure and she rejoices in the inner transformation that is the blessing God gives to every soul that carries their cross and never stops believing in Him.

Jesus does not want us to pursue any type of suffering for the sake of suffering, that’s foolish, but all of us will at some time or another face some difficult challenges. Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

Jesus never leaves us alone to carry our cross. He will always be with us to help us, to comfort and console us and one of the greatest consolations we have is the knowledge that one day Jesus will end all suffering. We can hope in our eternal future of joy and peace!

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

One of the most important things we can do to help people who are suffering today is to pray for them. Our Holy Lord is always ready to help us. Let us have confidence in our prayers and remember to pray with humility trusting in the wisdom of God, for God knows what is best for us.

Jesus said, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11: 9-10

If we do not receive, then it might be because we are asking for things that are contrary to God’s will. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3

How many times do you think you petitioned God with selfish intentions?

Even if we ask God for things that we think are honourable, we must consider that only God knows what is truly best for us. Sometimes enduring a challenge is the only way we can develop the virtues God wishes us to have. Remember God’s promise is always to help you: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Consider this scenario. A mother prays that she may earn enough money to send her son to college so he can become a scientist. Time passes and the money to go to college are never found, so the son chooses to take over the family farm. He marries a devoted wife that loves him, has children and lives a simple life full of simple pleasures, thanking God for his blessings. God is all knowing (omniscient) and perhaps He knew that had the son gone to college he would have become part of an atheistic crowd, married the wrong woman, become ambitious and driven to get rich instead of living a life of thanksgiving, reverencing God. So in this particular case it may have been a great blessing to become a farmer and not a scientist.

On the night before Jesus died, He entered into the Garden of Gethsemane and contemplating all He that He would have to suffer for our many sins, He became very distressed.

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Mark 14:34

Do you ever think about how much Our Holy Lord must suffer daily to see people who He loves so much reject Him through so many sins? Our Churches are not just full of faithful, devoted people, they also contain hypocrites and apostates who no longer love God. Can we comfort Jesus for a loss of souls?

Every day people rape, kill and abuse innocent people including the most precious little ones, our children. Jesus is rejected over and over again! What can we who love Jesus do to console our suffering Saviour?

Well one of the things I think we can do is to pray the way that Jesus prayed: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

Jesus did not want to suffer, but he surrendered His will so He could embrace the divine will of God.

Are you willing to surrender your will to seek God’s will for you? If so we need to pray that “God’s will be done!”

We cannot see what the future has in store for us, but if we confidently hold God’s hand and keep trusting in Our Holy Lord Jesus then we will be honouring God every step of the way as we journey towards eternal life. God will help us to endure whatever challenges and suffering come our way and those crosses will purify our souls.

When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane He asked His apostles to stay awake with Him, but you know what happened? They fell asleep!

Jesus carried His Cross up to the place of His crucifixion while people mocked Him and spat upon Him.

The crowds continued to insult Him as He was crucified and then Jesus died virtually alone, with His Blessed Mother Mary and a few chosen apostles praying for Him. Jesus died the death of a criminal so that we could be free from the bondage of sin, so that through His atoning sacrifice He could wash away the price of our sins.

When was the last time you said thank you to Jesus for dying for you?

How do we repay Jesus for His infinite sacrifice?

The sacrifice of Jesus is so meritorious that it is impossible to properly contemplate the greatness of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. The ONE AND ONLY living God, Jesus Christ, was tortured and killed so that we could be purified and washed clean from the stain of our sins!

I invite you to be with Jesus every day at the time He died for us, 3pm, in your local time zone as you stop for even just a few moments to remember the Passion of Christ and pray for the mercy of Our God upon all souls. Every day at this time let us thank Jesus for dying for us to create a place for us in Paradise!

Stand with Jesus at the foot of His Cross daily at 3pm for it is the Hour of Mercy. See your Lord and Saviour suffering for your redemption. Let us thank Jesus for His endless love and pray for His mercy upon all people.

Place a reminder in your calendar to stop at 3pm, the time Jesus died for us, to adore your Lord Jesus Christ and pray that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. The Lord will answer our prayers for mercy if we go to Him with penitent hearts, full of sorrow for our sins asking that His Holy Will be done.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 11-12

Learn more about A Peaceful Revolution in the Name of Jesus Christ.