Hi
Amidst life is death, divorce, despair and desperation. And sometimes we don’t know how to cope with such as Christians. Do we share, reach out to other believers, or do we bare ourselves before a seemingly absent God? Consider today’s Holy Nougat, that offers Jesus’ response in a similar situation
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”” Matthew 27:46
Have you ever got to this place – where everything and everyone seems to be against you; even God? His disciples had scattered, having betrayed, denied or abandoned Him; Jesus was alone.
Completely alone for three-hours of God-induced powercut. Even the heavenlies were shut.
I often think that Jesus didn’t anticipate being separated from God in those final moments. Or, even if He knew of the separation, it was light years difference from His expectations. Yes, Jesus had left Heaven to live on earth as we do; but even then, He was always in tune with God. Always
Nothing had prepared Him for the yawning emptiness of being outside of God’s presence. He was desolate. Matthew’s Gospel says that (the intensity of the separation was such that) Jesus died shortly after.
My peeps, we have not fully experienced the absence of God’s presence in our lives. Most of us anyways. I confess I don’t want to imagine; but am fine with taking my cue from the suggestion of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus’ agonized plea gives us permission (had we not realized it) to cry out to God in our most bitter moments. We may not receive an immediate response in the way we desire; but Joy may come in the morning. We may even experience death (literally or figuratively); but we cry out from our despair Before yielding to the worst.
If you are at that brink right now, I invite you to cry out to our God – My God! Why?
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
