They Get Me Every Time

"It is in families we are broken and it is in families that we are healed." - Carl Whittaker

I've shared, in very vague terms, that this past year has been quite a struggle for my extended family. There may be a time to go into more details, but I'm not sure that the details are necessary in order to share with you how God has used this time of pain for a greater good in my life. As I type this, I admit that my eyes are getting teary - I'm overwhelmed by the ways in which God loves us, the ways in which He redeems us, the ways in which He can cause "all things to work together for good for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose" - Romans 8:28.

Over the course of this past year, I've certainly learned how helpless I am. I can't change people, and I can't change situations. And for a control freak like me, that is not an easy lesson to learn. But God has also proved Himself entirely faithful - He listens, and even when if felt like the doors of heaven were completely bolted shut, He was still listening. I wish I could say that I never despaired, never doubted, never gave up - I did. But God, in His faithfulness never gave up on me, the situation, or anyone else in the situation. In moments of great pain and desperation, when all hope seemed lost, Jesus revealed Himself as the only true hope, and oh what a hope He is!

There were so many Scriptures that came to have new meaning during this time, but there was one passage that I just can't help but share:

"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threat, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." - 1 Peter 2:21-25

Those words get me every time - right in the pit of my stomach. There is nothing airy and light about the fact that we are called "for this purpose" - to suffer as Christ suffered. It is not easy, might I say sometimes seemingly impossible, to not revile, to not sin, to not utter threats when faced with pain, mistreatment, and persecution. But it is what we are called to do - to follow Christ's example. Man oh man, do I have a long way to go.

These words don't promise that all will be fixed the way we want it either. But rather, it says that we are to follow Christ's example and keep entrusting ourselves to the Righteous Judge. It means keeping our mouths shut and believing that that God will judge, heal, and restore to righteousness. It means believing that the Great Healer can use even the wounds of our lives to bring about healing and righteousness to others. It means believing that the Shepherd and Guardian of our soul will be faithful to do His job - taking good care of His sheep.

I'm not a quick learner. In fact, I'm sorry to say that throughout this year there were so many times I did not follow Christ's example. But I guess I wanted to share all this because the Lord has been so sweet to me - and I just can't help talking about it. He has brought and continues to bring me hope, healing, and vision for the ways in which He can turn pain and suffering into a beautiful witness. He has taught me that He can make even the bitterest of waters sweet. That He is not only a God of hopeless causes, but a God of all comfort. He is tender even to the most tortured of souls.

Maybe you're there - maybe you're in a place where your heart hurts so much that it feels like your chest might just rip in two. Maybe you're standing at that dead end, realizing you can't go any further, you can't change your circumstances, you can't change your loved one, or you can't even change yourself. Maybe you've been completely broken by pain and suffering. Maybe all you can do is stare helplessly at your wounds. My friend - entrust, entrust, entrust.

Entrust yourself to the Righteous Judge. Entrust yourself to the Shepherd and Guardian of your Souls. Entrust yourself to the Great and Mighty Healer. He listens. He knows. He's been there. After all, it is only by His wounds that we ourselves are healed.

Take heart. This is our calling. This is our purpose. This is our hope.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." - Psalms 147:3