Over the next few blogs I will attempt to apply the cross to a believer's everyday life in terms of our suffering. We will look at why we suffer, how we might suffer, comforting one another in our suffering and comparing it with eternity. We will consider suffering that is unexplained, suffering that is God glorifying, suffering that is a display of human weakness, suffering that is unjust and suffering that is persecution.

I did my own word check. I found that in the Bible, for every six times joy is mentioned, there are four references to suffering. We should not be surprised when it comes our way.

Christians have no entitlement to be protected from suffering; no entitlement to safety or to healing. Jesus said "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23). Jesus asked James and John: "'Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?' 'Oh yes,' they replied, 'we are able!' Jesus told them, 'You will indeed drink from my bitter cup'" (Mt 20:20-28). He was referring to the cross. We all have to drink of that cup. James and John certainly did. Yet the Lord wants to encourage and strengthen us in our sufferings. And he wants us to remember that we are not alone; he is with us and we are part of the church which is a worldwide family.

"Cast [as a heavily-weighted fishing net] all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen" (1Pt 5:7-11).

We have all been shocked and horrified by the barbaric and sinister war being waged against Ukraine. However, if we are not careful, we can lose sight of the fact that God is Sovereign over all things; that He is still on the throne; that He continues to work his purposes out; and that He is good!

We are also in danger of opening our hearts to thoughts that are more in line with the enemies' than with our Father's; at least I know I am. We have a higher calling: to love our enemies, to weep with those who weep and to carry each other's burdens.

We live in a fallen world and the god of this world is constantly promoting the most extreme forms of evil. They are the inevitable consequences of humankind turning its back on its Creator.