Burdens and Remedies

Isaiah 53:4-6

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

Whatever you’re carrying today, Jesus already bore the weight of it all on the cross.  Think about that… all of the pain, sorrow, grief, sin… all of it from the beginning of time to the very end- He saw it, He knew it, He carried it to the cross, so that in His suffering, our suffering is never out of His control, but it’s present to remind us we are called to be like Christ. 

The picture above is profound. The entire scene seems to be overlaid with a fingerprint. There is no part of the man’s experience that isn’t touched by it. It’s representative of our lives. God’s hand is all over everything we face, even the dark, difficult, painful days are not out of God’s control and mediation. His hand is all over anything we might face and He meters what we must endure. It is all to draw us closer to Him and make us more like Christ.

So whatever you’re facing today, He knew it before you faced it and He’s already got the remedy.  Little sheep, listen to your Shepherd.  Follow Him closely, lean into Him, trust Him.  Don’t turn to your own way and don’t grow bitter.  There is safety in the fold of Jesus.  Find your place there.

There is no sorrow too heavy that He cannot carry it. Jesus is a Man of sorrows, He understands.

There is no grief too deep He cannot reach it. He is acquainted with grief. Let Jesus be your comfort.

There is no pain too intense He cannot bear it. Let Him be a balm to your hurting heart.

There is no darkness too great He cannot breach it. Look to the Light of the World to bring light to the darkness.

El-Roi- the God who sees

Jehovah-Jireh- the God who provides

Jehovah-Rapha- the God who heals

Jesus- the God who saves

 Maybe you’re praying for a prodigal and the sorrow, grief, pain and darkness are overwhelming. God is not overwhelmed. He sees. He knows. He is working. Even if you cannot see it, trust Him. He is Sovereign and He loves your precious prodigal more than you ever could. He wants all to come to repentance. Pray that it would be so!

Let’s pray that our sons and daughters find their safety and identity in Christ.  Pray that they would run to Him, not away from Him.  Pray that their hearts would be drawn to the One who already endured everything and carefully sifts what will touch their lives because nothing is out of His control.

Pray without ceasing.