More.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 5:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Jesus never promised that this life would be indefinitely easy. Oh, how often in the midst of my human trials do I fail to see His goodness. His will is greater than my mere circumstances.
So often, Christians (myself included) talk about how much joy and love Jesus provides those who trust in Him. And it's true-His love is all consuming, and His joy is boundless. 

But it's not all roses. Sometimes life is hard. Oftentimes putting faith in Jesus makes living this earthly, mundane life even more difficult. 

Following Jesus means constantly making the decision to deny oneself. He endured an immeasurable amount of suffering on our behalf-so that we would become free from sin that ensnares us. Therefore, how arrogant are we to often assume that following Jesus would be effortless. 

Jesus calls us to SURRENDER. He calls us to walk in His blood stained footsteps, and share in His pain. He calls us to trust that His will is sufficient-despite our seemingly overwhelming earthly challenges.

As a result of his all consuming love, He allows those who follow Him to live a life that is full of MORE. more life. more joy. more love. more peace. more faith. and even more pain. 

Jesus doesn't give us trials as punishment. He sees our insufficiencies, and promises to never give His people more hardships than they can possibly bear. But we were not called to follow, and leading requires making sacrifices. Jesus promises if we live resting in His truths, trusting in His will in the midst of our ever present weaknesses-that He will clothe us in strength. 

2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Everyday, I am learning to trust in His will, and rejoice in the midst of daily trials. Jesus is inherently GOOD, therefore, His plans for us are ultimately perfect. When we are standing in the presence of Christ, stripped of all our earthly pleasures, He will smile and praise us for our endurance. 

Jesus is greater. 

Jesus helps us live a life of MORE. 

Trials don't have to be defeating.