wounds woven whole

Despite everyone claiming they want a happy simple life with all their needs met and everything taken care of for them, all the money they would ever need etc, that really isn't a great life. Often the hardest valleys in our lives define who we are and prove resiliency. As Christians called to walk with Christ, we are given the warning that we will suffer for his sake

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." - 1 Peter 2:21

Whether without food, without beverage, or without livelihood, we are called to rejoice, which is the exact opposite response this world expects, but often that is the response Christ calls us to, as we follow Him.

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." - Habakkuk 3:17-18

The reason we can rejoice in hardship and affliction is because of the promise and the how we are given. As we suffer for Christ's sake we share with Him in His death. This is a part of our dying to self. Giving up worldly pleasures is a small price to pay to make room to experience the richness of God's bountiful goodness. When we share in Suffering we grow closer to Christ and in so also are made eligible to share in his abundant comfort and glory forevermore. The magnitude of this far outweighs any temporal pain or trials we may face

"But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." - 1 Peter 4:13

"For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." - 2 Corinthians 1:5

"that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11

Christ laid out the example for us and calls us to follow Him. Let Him lead. Though we know we will face trials in our life where our faith will be tested, Christ has already carried that burden for us and will walk every step along the way right beside us. We don't need to face it alone. Take any suffering and turn it into an opportunity to grow the bond with Christ. Though marginal, it only gives us a small glimpse of what he bore on the cross. These passages help us see that suffering allows us to relate on a low level with Christ's experience in His suffering on the cross. Through this we have hope that one day we can rejoice in His glory with no more suffering.

The song is titled "wounds woven whole" let’s break it down:

1. Wounds: We experience disappointments, hardships, and persecution all sorts of different levels. Christ experienced many of these to a much higher degree.
2. Woven: Whether with others, but especially with Christ these relatable experiences draw us together and grow the relational bond.
3. Whole: The crazy part is not only did Christ take on his own suffering but he offers to carry ours too! In Christ we are brought to completion. Without the wounds we cannot be made whole in Christ.

You may hear a few Latin phrases in the background! (Bonus points if you did) "Sume Crucem, Pane Coronam" (SOO-meh KROO-kem, PAH-neh KOR-ah-num)

This means, “Take up the Cross, receive the Crown” , inspired by this verse.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:24

My call to everyone is simple. How will you respond to the suffering in your life?