We Don't LoseSample

Embrace the Pain of Sacrifice

Jesus didn’t avoid pain; He faced it with obedience and total surrender. In Gethsemane, in the midst of deep anguish, He prayed openly to the Father: if possible, let this suffering pass. But His surrender was complete: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42, NLT). Jesus didn’t just accept the cross—He embraced it. Because He knew that through it, redemption would come.

Pain is inevitable in life, but not all pain is the same. Some suffering destroys, others build; some enslave, others set free. Learning to embrace the right kind of pain allows us to grow, mature, and align with God’s purpose. Not all pain is bad—some pain heals. Just as a surgeon cuts to heal, God allows certain pains to shape, strengthen, and purify us.

Jesus taught us to face suffering with purpose. His cross was not a defeat; it was the path to glory. And just as He didn’t run from sacrifice, we are also called to face what hurts, knowing that God uses trials to refine our character, teach us dependence, and prepare our hearts.

Often, we avoid the pain of sacrifice only to later face the pain of regret. But the cost of obedience will always be less than the consequences of disobedience. The pain we choose in following Christ is never wasted. As Jesus illustrated with the image of pruning, even when it hurts, it produces abundant fruit. The pain of pruning doesn’t destroy us—it prepares us for more.

Scripture warns us: we shouldn’t be surprised by trials, because sharing in Christ’s sufferings also anticipates future glory. True discipleship doesn’t avoid pain. Faith doesn't mean absence of trials but the certainty that God uses every process for good.

Embracing sacrifice in faith turns loss into fruit and suffering into purpose. Because pain without Christ enslaves, but pain in Christ sets us free. In His hands, pain isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of something glorious.

Reflection Questions:

• What area of my life is God pruning today so it can bear more fruit?
• How can I embrace sacrifice and suffering with the hope that in Christ, nothing is in vain?

Prayer: Father, thank You because even in pain, You are working. Help me to embrace sacrifice with faith and to obey, trusting that Your will is always better. In Jesus' name, amen.