When we are in the middle of dealing with day-to-day life that sometimes includes suffering, it is important to understand God knows what is going on and will even use our suffering for his glory when we lean into Jesus, our living hope.

In the Upper Room, Jesus reassured the Twelve about their future honor despite their impending trials and failures, emphasizing that greatness comes through servanthood and grace.

Three times in the first 11 verses of that chapter we are told to rejoice: “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (v. 2). “We rejoice in our sufferings” because they produce endurance (v. 3). And in verse 11, “We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Everyone gets to the other side of great suffering eventually. It might be achieved only in the next life, but the slow recovery of another in this life stirs hope in us that we might endure as well.

Our discipleship is a process that leads to becoming more and more like Jesus so that our witness is a more clear reflection of God to others.

Maybe AI can help us learn what Solomon tried to teach us several centuries ago. Proverbs 17: 27 offers advice that AI might have recently confirmed: “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”

If we hold grudges, cling to old wounds, or fail to be reconciled to another believer, Paul’s instructions from this chapter may need to be a matter of prayer and action, so that we can together show the world the power of the cross.

By concentrating on becoming more like Jesus rather than fixating on political parties or leaders, Christians can better reflect the life and love of Christ, regardless of the political climate.