Jesus spoke these words while He was on the Cross. Perhaps your darkest times have left you with the same feelings of despair, abandonment, and doubt. Doubt in God's presence and doubt in His love. Jesus was God, but He was also fully human. He had a human body, a human mind, human limitations, and human emotions. The Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ life and ministry, and they reveal many of these emotions. Emotions that we too have, like joy, love, and compassion, along with anger, frustration, sorrow, and loneliness.
In the middle of a crisis, have you ever thought, ‘God, where are you? Why have you let this happen to me? Why have you left me all alone in this?’ Jesus did. And He didn’t just think it; He shouted it for all to hear!
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
He said this, but had God really abandoned Him? I don’t think so. Jesus felt alone, but He wasn’t. And He knew that. He knew the truth. Jesus was quoting words from Psalm 22, but if you read further, you know what He would have said eventually, if He would have had the strength. He obviously didn't, but He would have remembered...
All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me...I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you...For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. (Psalm 22:17-19,22,24)
And in another prophetic Psalm we read these words Jesus would have known well: I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken...my body will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. (Psalm 16:8-10)
In the middle of great trials, confusing circumstances, and everyday life, my thoughts can become overcome with feelings of abandonment and aloneness. I feel like no one can possibly understand what I'm going through, and God is nowhere to be found. His promises seem false. He has failed me.
But just because I think that, doesn’t make it true. God does not forsake us. He does not forget. He does not leave! How did Jesus overcome such a time of feeling abandoned? He believed the truth. He trusted God. In the middle of the darkness, He believed in the light; He believed He would still be heard. Mark 15:37 tells us: With a loud cry he breathed his last. Whom do you think He was crying out to?
God will sometimes take us to that point where He is all we have left and crying out to Him is our only hope. But the key is: He is our hope. He is there. He is over it. And we are never alone.
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Psalm 61:1-4
No comments:
Post a Comment