Our little dog, Luna, has begun to cry whenever the circumstances of her life are not up to her opinion. She obviously knows what she wants and seeing as words are a bit challenging, she does the next best thing. Here’s what she has done. She has trained all of us to come whenever she calls. Starburst was not a cryer. In fact, if she cried, we all responded immediately. Unfortunately, this same practice for Luna has created a problem.
We don’t know when she’s actually in need. And now begins the process of turning back the clock. Teaching Luna that every drop of the hat does not necessitate a cry response.
Right now, I’m staring at our “cat who adopted us” as he snoozes. We crack up because my son, Danny, is his favorite. Any time Danny asks Milo a question, he answers. Milo only answers the rest of us when he wants to be let outside.
I am trying to find language to tell you about my cries. I think this is part of the reason I want to do this study. So, Ill come back to this. In the meantime, let me share another’s cry. That changed the world by His sacrifice.
Psalms 22:1-5 NASB1995
”My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed.“
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.22.1-5.NASB1995
I cannot begin to describe the heart shift I am having right now. I’m re-memorizing Isaiah 53 and now with Psalm 22, both of which are prophetic works. Jesus came for this. He came to suffer on behalf of us all. He died the death of a murderer and yet, “there was no deceit found in his mouth..”Isaiah 53. We know that. His trials, His cries pave a way for me. For you.
Contemplating Jesus through reading and studying His pain. My mind is sorta exploding. All I have because Jesus said yes. I don’t remember too much about my infancy, maybe you do? Jesus came to be born of a woman. He knew waiting. He was inside a woman for 9 months. He gets waiting. He knew waiting because for 33 years, He knew a day was coming.
Our waiting will end either on this side of heaven or the next. What are you waiting for today?
Hebrews 4:14-16
”Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.4.14-16.NASB1995
Waiting can be excruciating. Waiting for a doctor’s visit. Waiting for a test result. Waiting in line. It’s easy for me to focus on the waiting, instead of considering Jesus. Setting my focus on the One who understands waiting.
I think today of Mary washing Jesus’ feet with her tears. (John 12:1-7) It is easy to place our focus on Judas’ griping about the money. Mary has no voice here to explain her tears, but Jesus tells us she is preparing Him for his burial. So, it could be an easy jump to say, she was crying for the incalculable loss of her Savior. And she really had no idea the suffering.
He did.
And He went willingly.
Let’s be honest, nobody wants to suffer. We don’t think, gosh, I’d love to be in pain. Yet, Jesus walked towards suffering.
Jesus knows, friend. He knows your pain. He carries it. So let us run towards His grace. Find mercy and grace while walking through the pain. Jesus asked the Father why. He asked that the cup be removed from Him.
Luke 22:41-43
”And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.“
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.22.41-43.NASB1995
We are strengthened too! What a beautiful picture of Jesus’ willingness and the blessing of an angel. The disciples were sound asleep but Jesus was not alone.
Let us remember this, when it feels as though we are all alone. We are not! Let us keep opening the Bible. Keep asking for help. God is not silent in my pain. He is not silent in yours.
Peace.
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