Greetings! ... The Lord is with you.

Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."
The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
Luke 1:34-37 NLT

Am I too young and inexperienced? Have I waited too long, and everyone else is far ahead of me? Nothing is impossible with God!

"He is not guilty of any crime."

Jesus' barbarious whipping and torture is sandwiched between two professions from Pilate, "He is not guilty of any crime" (John 18:38 NLT) and "I find him not guilty" (John 19:6 NLT). Earlier, Peter was trying to go down fighting as he attacks the high priest's slave (John 18:10). But when Christ calls us to suffer with him, it is not with swords (or guns) and earthly power, but according to his example: love, forgiveness, and enduring unrighteousness. As we put our allegiance in the king of the universe, we will naturally conflict with the powers of this world, and ultimately Satan. Their verdict will not always be truthful, "he is not guilty of any crime." Regardless of their assessment, we have reason to expect suffering. Yet, we know him through "fellowship in His suffering, being conformed to His death" (Philippians 3:10 NASB).