Do you have family or friends who are in pain? They may have been laid off, gotten divorced, experienced the death of a love one or are just beat down by life in general. Every time you see them or speak with them, the conversation is filled with sadness and anguish. It can be exhausting to talk with them but that is just what Jesus calls us to do. I have been reading Max Lucado's latest book You'll Get Through This. In it, he deals with the very situations I described at the beginning of this post; people who have experienced bad things. It brings to mind the question of why God allows this to happen. Lucado seems to think that God is using these bad things to build a stronger you and me. He says that while Satan weaves hate and terror, God reweaves it into good. The Bible tells us in many different places that God will use hardship to sharpen us as Christians. When you look at Paul, Stephen, Moses, Abraham, and Jesus himself, you will realize that people going through hardship is part of life. Lucado uses the story of Joesph, one of Jacob's sons, to illustrate the model that God expects from us when bad things occur in our lives. Joseph was rejected by his family, sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, and thrown into prison. Because Joseph had faith and an ongoing relationship with God, he knew that his future had not arrived yet. He trusted in God's perfect timing despite the hardship. He never lost his faith and he constantly relied on the Lord to carry him in these difficult times. He also, as Lucado says, did not make rash or foolish decisions. He based his decision making on the promises that God had revealed to him in a series of dreams. It is a great example for us in these trying times. We often are faced with adversity and many of us make really bad decisions trying to alleviate our pain. God does not promise a painless life. Our road will not always be smooth and there will be impediments to overcome. Isn't it nice to know that despite all of this, our God is always there? He wants to pick us up and carry us through the pain. He is love. The pain and suffering caused by the works of Satan and his followers can always be rewoven into good for God's people. I encourage you to read the story of Joseph in Genesis. Build your own relationship with God. Trust in his grace and providence and remain steadfast that He will reweave your life into something beautiful and lasting.
I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...