Before I opened my eyes this morning, thoughts of inadequacy and anguish and grieve assaulted me. I would like to credit some evil demon or even Satan himself, but the more likely story is that my flesh was attacking itself. My neural pathways are so programed to devalue self that only the grace of Jesus and the truth of who He is can change me. I understand that some women sin in the opposite way by elevating themselves above others. Both are sin.

The only way to combat sin is with Jesus. It matters not that the suffering that you are called to endure is different than mine. The remedy is the same. Romans 8:18 has been an anchor for me. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” Paul just says sufferings. Can we suffer because of our own sin? Yes. Do we suffer because some one sins against us? Yes. Do we suffer what is common to man (death, sickness, war etc.)? Yes.

The struggle is this. Will I focus my eyes on the suffering, or will I focus my eyes on Jesus? Will I sit in darkness, or will I let the light of truth shine in me? God made him who had no sin to be sin for me, so that in him I might become the righteousness of God. Oh, how truth should change the way I think!