Hey friends, Pastor Aaron here with a quick word of encouragement today for all that you're walking through in your life. I was looking back through my most recent devotions and time with Jesus and this one stood out to me as something that might encourage us where we are. Hebrews 5:8 Is speaking of Jesus and it says, “Although he was the Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” I think about that as such an extraordinary thing to say, that Jesus, being the Son of God, still walked through suffering and difficulty and part of it was the learning of obedience. Learning to walk on the path even when the path is not an easy one. That was part of his development, that was part of his character as a person. Even though in every way he was a son and an heir.
The same is true for us. That we are all sons and daughters of the King. That in Christ we find ourselves in that relationship with God. And yet, that doesn't eliminate us from walking through hard things. But it’s a nice thought to know that we are not alone in that. That Jesus walked the same way. That Jesus walked through painful things out of obedience because it was part of walking in the bigger picture that God had for him. That he knew was upon his life. And the same is true for you. You’re probably walking through some tough stuff right now. In fact, I don't talk to anybody who isn’t walking through something tough. All of us are kind of walking through the same tough stuff, but then there’s all the individual difficulties in the midst of that. And for all of us, even though we are sons and daughters of the King, to be able to say, I’m going to keep walking close to Jesus regardless of the challenges I am facing, of the pain that is in my life. I’m going to keep pursuing Christ out of obedience. And especially when it’s hard, I’m going to say yes to him. And on the other side of that is learning what it is to walk in that obedience, saying, “whatever you have for me, Jesus, that‘s all I want.” And I won't shrink back from the difficult things. Because I understand that through those difficult things, often you’re bringing about the greatest good of my life.
So I hope that’s how you would feel today, whatever challenges you might find yourself facing. You’re not alone in that, Jesus walked the same way. And we can be there for each other as well. We don’t have to walk alone in challenges we face, all of us together can know what it is to walk in that obedience and encourage each other amidst the challenges, knowing that it ultimately will be for our good. Have an amazing week, Cove Church! We look forward to seeing you soon.
About the Author
Aaron Sutherland
Pastor Aaron met his wife Pastor Paula in college, and they have been growing in love together for 25 years ever since.
Aaron earned a bachelor’s degree from New Hope Christian College and went on to complete a Master’s degree in Formational Leadership from Capital Seminary. He is a licensed pastor with Open Bible Churches.
Along with their two sons Ethan and Isaac, the Sutherlands have continually experienced the great adventure of following Jesus. From 1995 to 2004, the Sutherlands ministered as youth pastors for two vibrant churches. In 2005, God called them to plant Desert Song Community Church, in Redmond, Oregon. It was in those years that they discovered the excitement of watching God start a church from nothing. The Sutherlands have had a heart for church planting ever since, as they serve with organizations that further church planting around the world. In the fall of 2012, Aaron and Paula moved to Eugene, Oregon to plant Cove Church.
Aaron loves to spend days with a fly rod in his hand and a fish on the line. There are no bad days on the river.
