Isaiah 38:16-20 New International Version (NIV)
16 Lord, by such things people live;
and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health and let me live.
17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 18 For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. 19 The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness. 20 The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord.
Friday - December 25
Leonard J. DeLorenzo (University of Notre Dame) once wrote: "Mother Teresa left happiness to find joy. The difference between happiness and joy is that happiness avoids suffering and joy endures suffering in hope." In love, Jesus was born to serve, heal, comfort, encourage, empathize, and most of all... forgive you. On that first Christmas, Jesus was born to go to the cross and endure the suffering that would put all your sins “behind his back” forever! Christmas is the incredibly good news that God decided the joy of having a relationship with you was worth suffering for! Heavenly Father, bring healing where there is pain and suffering, health where there is illness, and comfort where there is mourning. Grant us faith and endurance to know your will and do it even when it is difficult. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.