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HELEN SANDERS
10-12-2026
THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS
This was written about three years ago, but I was led to share this message again.
Philippians 3:10 says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death…”
When we think of Jesus dying on the cross, we know that he was beaten, he was mocked, he was tortured beyond anything we can imagine.
One day a while back, I had a bout with atrial fibrillation. It was not a pleasant experience, but while I was lying on my bed praying and believing for a touch from God, I heard the Lord speak to me. This is what He said.
“Helen, I had A-Fib too.” I said, “Lord, when did you have A-Fib?” He responded with this, “I had it on the cross, but unlike you, I could not lay down and work through it.”
That was all He said, but it pierced my heart. I wept and wept. I thought about it and realized that he bore “my” A-fib before I ever had it. He bore it to understand what I was going through. But he allowed me to go through it to understand what He went through. I have not had an episode since that moment.
My friends, Jesus bore every sin, every sickness, every plague, every cancer, every loss, every atrocity, every evil act of violence, every rebellion, every hateful moment, and everything else that was unrighteous. When we go through things that are hard to understand, often it is because we want to be more like him. We are allowed to go through things to show us the fellowship of his sufferings. This experience and what He said to me changed me. If it was possible, I love Him more now than I ever did, knowing what he did for me.
Have you been going through a hard season? You can be sure He went through it first before you ever were put in that season. So, understand this, that you now know a small part of what He went through for you! Don’t despise these seasons. Embrace them, knowing God loves you enough to fellowship with you, even in the sharing of the pain and agony he suffered for you.
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