Isaiah 53:10-12 (NLT)
“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”
Imagine a ceremony for a soldier who had shown exemplary bravery in battle. Perhaps he had rescued fellow soldiers or overcome great danger. Jesus’ award ceremony is described in advance here — a heavenly ticker-tape parade for his bravery in facing death and triumphing over it. His sacrifice opened the doors for many others to enter the kingdom of God. In light of that, he considers his hardship worth it.
Let’s zoom in on the first sentence: “It was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.” That’s a tough one to swallow. Have you ever faced a trial in your life and you wonder if God is somehow wanting to cause you pain? A lot of people struggle with anger at God for such difficulties. Here in this verse it’s plain as day: God caused Jesus grief and considered that a good plan. All that the plan accomplished made it worth the pain.
Any pain God brings into your mission will be worth it in the end. That may be a tough pill to swallow when you are in the midst of a trial. And not all trials are part of God’s mission — there is plenty that we bring on ourselves or our decaying world brings on us. But when you are spiritually battling and working for the kingdom to do what God has called you to do, the pain you face will be worth it when the results are tallied. People will be saved and set free, lives will be changed, battles will be won. Stay connected to the work God has called you to do and don’t give up. If God is allowing hardship, you may just be in the battle of your life for the sake of the kingdom.