Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Lent Day 37: Crushed but not forsaken

Even the helpless can have hope. Sometimes life crushes us, falling on us to extinguish all optimism. Yet, "LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them." (Psalm 10:17-18 NEV)

As Christians, we are sure that God knows the limits of what we can bear. Not all of us could be Jesus, martyred and forsaken, but each of us will experience the brokenness and sadness of being human. There's nothing that God cannot see us through, walk into with us, or transform to make the future worth living. 

I marvel at Jesus' goodness and kind intentions toward us, thinking of his travels with sure steps toward the cross -- it would have been only a day or two away from crucifixion today in his last week -- leaving behind safety and a good life to move toward us.

Because of Jesus' steadfast endurance and willingness to suffer for us, we have a sure hope. We have confidence in the relationship and healing God has provided through Christ. As the prophet wrote, inspired by a God who is not afraid of the future: "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV)

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