My 19-year-old daughter Kaiah had her first ever cup of coffee today. I made it for her. She told me that she felt tingly and jittery after drinking it, because her body wasn’t used to the caffeine infusion. Since she isn’t a soda drinker and doesn’t regularly have any caffeine in her diet, she felt particularly weird and wired after consuming coffee this morning.

Before Kaiah drank it, she said she was feeling groggy and run down. But shortly after all that caffeine started pumping through her veins, she felt completely alert. I’m not sure she’ll have it again though, because she didn’t like the taste. She said it tasted “bitter” and generally unpleasant. Although the coffee woke her up and gave her energy – two of the most appealing things about caffeine – I’m not too sure she can get past the flavor which she compared to “earwax.”

Ha! I’d say that’s a pretty accurate description.

The first time I tried coffee, I pretty much thought the same thing about it as Kaiah does. It was bitter. Yuck! But during my second semester in college, I had a hectic schedule and decided that the energy I got from drinking coffee was worth enduring the icky taste.

You know, in life, many things can be like coffee, beneficial and bitter at the same time. We choose to hold on to things with benefits that we believe outweigh the bitterness.

In Mark 10:35-45, two disciples, James and John, known as the “Sons of Thunder,” came to Jesus and asked Him to give them “whatever” they requested. They asked to be seated on His right and left side in glory (v. 37).

So, Jesus told James and John, who had clearly been seduced by the prospect of power and elevation, they didn’t know what they were asking. Then the Messiah posed a question to them: “Can you drink the cup I drink?”

That “cup” Jesus spoke of in verse 38 was the bitter cup of suffering for the cross. And although Jesus didn’t grant the ambitious duo’s request (After all, in the Kingdom, humility through service is the way to be exalted and not self-promotion!), the Savior did guarantee this one thing: they would indeed drink from His bitter cup of suffering (v. 39). Whether they wanted to or not, it would happen.

The same is true for you and me. Amen? Every believer, not just the disciples in Scripture, must suffer and endure the bitterness of the Christian journey to reap the benefits of adoption into the family of God. Unlike Kaiah, who can choose never to have another bitter cup of coffee as long as she lives, we don’t have the option. We don’t get to say no to the bitter cup of suffering—not if we are to continue walking with Christ and living the abundant life He died to give us (John 10:10). We are fully expected to tip up that bitter cup and drink up.

Now, that may seem a bit like bad news, but it’s only bad news if you focus on the bitterness and forget about the benefits. The Kingdom of God, according to Romans 14:17, is living a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 2:12 assures us that if we suffer with Christ, we will also reign with Him.

So it isn’t all bad, right? There are plenty of undeniable benefits. In fact, in verse 28 of this same chapter, Peter said to Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you!” And Jesus replied with a powerful promise that applies to anyone that makes sacrifices to follow Him, that they will “receive a hundred times as much in this present age” (vv. 29-30).

That means you and me! So then, we should expect trouble, persecution and suffering, but we should also confidently anticipate blessings, because Christ made a promise.

Friend, through this word today, God is saying, expect Him to do even more for you. Be on the lookout for overwhelming blessings. Let the promises in God’s word and not your problems shape your perspective. Through this word, God is lifting your head and encouraging your heart, and assuring you in your spirit that your suffering isn’t in vain. Sure, He knows life has been bitter at times, but He promises to make it better. He’ll make it alright!

He’ll bless you. He’ll restore you. He’ll renew and replenish you. He’ll honor your sacrificial service and your willingness to humble yourself for the sake of the Kingdom. He’ll compensate your losses. He’ll see to it that you reap a harvest from the seeds of faith you have planted. He’ll increase you.

You can bank on that, because God never breaks a promise. He cannot lie. He is always faithful to perform His word.

To help you continue to confidently anticipate blessings, I’m stirring Psalm 5:12 NIV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, prepare yourself to receive manifold, blessings and abundant favor. God has seen your sacrifices and will reward you. And you can be sure that Kingdom rewards are the best rewards, because they go far above and beyond what you could ever ask or think!

Now, let’s pray.

God, thank You for assuring me that my suffering and sacrifices are not in vain. My heart is encouraged by Your promise to bless me a hundredfold and shower me with the benefits Christ secured for me on the cross. For the rest of my life, come what may, I will take up my cross and follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!