Think of What He Went Through

When life feels overwhelming and we're tempted to throw in the towel, Hebrews 12:3 offers us a powerful antidote: 'Think of what He went through.' This isn't just a casual suggestion to skim over quickly in our Bible reading—it's a command to pause, ponder, examine, and meditate deeply on Christ's suffering. The original language conveys the idea of studying and deliberating, not just glancing. Why does Scripture emphasize this so strongly? Because our endurance is directly connected to our thinking. When we truly consider what Jesus endured—not just the cross, but the constant opposition, hatred, and trials throughout His ministry—our own struggles gain proper perspective. The message challenges us with a sobering truth: we will never experience what Jesus went through. Our worst day was probably an average day for Him. This isn't meant to minimize our pain, but to maximize our perseverance. When we control our thinking by fixing our minds on His sacrifice, we control our endurance. The solution to discouragement isn't found in external circumstances changing, but in internal perspective shifting. As we meditate on Christ's suffering—and even the Apostle Paul's incredible hardships detailed in 2 Corinthians 11—we're reminded that our present troubles are 'small and won't last very long.' This is the key to not becoming discouraged and giving up: regularly, intentionally thinking about what He went through for us.