I’ve tweaked a piece I wrote during the Lenten season two years ago. I hope it will be an encouragement for you to tell your story in light of God’s companionship and compassion for where you find yourself. For some, that may be a time of waiting for upcoming medical appointments, hope for reconciliation in broken relationships, unconsolable grief and loss…..on this day, considered “Silent Saturday”, the last day of the Lenten season, may you be encouraged to spend time reflecting on how Resurrection Sunday heals us.
Susan Cain’s quote is powerful. Unfortunately, so many Christians focus on conquering fears (and inducing fear in others) and claiming victories that they forget that God most transforms us in our pain and suffering. Why is that? When I read the four gospels that depict Jesus’ earthly ministry, I’m reminded that Jesus longed to heal and hang out with the suffering, marginalized and oppressed, and He had the most conflict and pushback with the religious elite-those who believed “doing for God” was what honored God the most. Yet what does David say in Psalm 51? “My sacrifice, O God, (i.e., what God most wants from us) is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” In the middle of his greatest grief and sin, in committing adultery, disrespecting someone’s marriage covenant, murder, then losing a child, David cries out for a cleansed heart and willing spirit. “Keep creating in me a pure [surrendered] heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” “Let my wounds speak comfort, peace, and hope to others who also have wounds.” Healing for David, and now for us, requires that we surrender our brokenness (wrongs we’ve done and wrongs done to us, deferred dreams, deep disappointments, unresolved conflicts, deep grief) to the One who restores and sustains us in all matters of life. “Bones that were crushed will rejoice.” The resurrected Jesus came back with the nail marks still in his hands. Healing comes with naming and forgiving, and scars are left behind as reminders of the Savior’s healing touch.
Henri Nouwen wrote a book entitled In the Name of Jesus, a book that is very relevant in this Lenten season. Although he is writing mostly to leaders in the church, (and leaders in the western church truly need to hear and respond accordingly), the application is for all who desire to be in healthy relationships and experience freedom in Christ.
Two of the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness were, 1. the temptation to be relevant, to live for the applause and approval of others; and 2. the temptation to be spectacular; doing things for God instead of being with God which leads to lonely individualism and striving; it’s what’s called “the myth of religious fulfillment”: asking God to give us a life that bypasses hardship and pain in order to live a spectacular existence; asking Him into our story instead of humbly entering His.
Nouwen writes that the antidote to being spectacular is learning to confess and forgive. How hard this is to do in our competitive society. Letting others see the cracks is so difficult. We’re not encouraged in this culture (or, quite frankly, in some churches) to show weakness or acknowledge personal inadequacy or failure. How will we have a good testimony if we admit these things? How will we save our reputation, witness, and institution? Aren’t we giving in to unbelief?
Paul reminds us that our own striving does not lead to freedom in Galatians 2:19-21, “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
What a powerful reminder Nouwen brings forth in his writings and what Paul declares here: we all need to deeply confront any tendencies of the false self to be self-sufficient and striving in those ways we resist the deep love of God and exclude and betray others.
So let’s celebrate our inadequacy and watch as God smoothes our calloused hearts toward others. It’s not an easy thing; forgiveness is costly. Reconciliation doesn’t always happen. Situations aren’t always resolved in the way we’d hoped. Dreams get deferred and we have to look to God to unfold a different future for us. Allowing the broken body of Christ to truly heal leads to a freedom won by His resurrection. It’s why he came.
I’ll leave you with an exchange I had with Violet a couple years ago. I needed to recall this conversation, as I am now facing future surgeries involving skin cancer. We were walking the beach trail in San Clemente, holding hands, and out of the blue she said, “Nana, you know God will heal all your boo boos if you just ask Him. All you have to do is ask Him, and He will heal all your boo boos.”
I needed to hear that then, after some significantly painful experiences of hurt and betrayal, and I need to hear it now on the uncertain road I am walking. Her sensitive and innocent heart looked at God as the trusted Savior who lives to heal our broken and hurt lives. It’s that simple. Why do we adults resist His love in this way and feel pressured to be self-sufficient and spectacular?
Confession and forgiveness leads to freedom.
Where do you need this kind of freedom? Come to the only One who can heal your boo boos. AMEN.
Thank you for that lesson amd insight!