He has sent me to repair broken hearts, And to declare to those who are held captive and bound in prison,
“Be free from your imprisonment!” ~ Isaiah 61:1 The Voice
Driving down the interstate one December morning, I could barely see the car in front of mine. My chest heaved uncontrollably as tears streamed down my face. It felt like someone pushed me off a cliff. It had been a dizzying few weeks of my husband traveling and work pressures thrown on top of Christmas school programs, parties, shopping and decorating.
My spinning plates came crashing to the ground as I attended a wedding for a friend’s daughter. Instead of enjoying the beauty of the special celebration, I resented them for having a wedding so close to Christmas. I spent most of the reception alone outside, walking around the grounds trying to catch my breath. I was surrounded by darkness I could not shake.
Days later, as I headed to work, I couldn’t hold it together any longer…
I have experienced seasons when depression and despair lurked just outside the threshold of my soul, pounding deafeningly for me to open the doors.
When I was a little girl, I didn’t understand the shame that could be inflicted by an adult, someone my family trusted. Like many others, I suffered in silence because I lived in a generation of girls who did not bravely say #MeToo. We did not talk about it inside the walls of our home and most assuredly, did not acknowledge it publicly.
My family eventually moved to a different city and I thought I was safe. But I remember the night I stared at my bedroom door all night long. He was in town and asked to stay at our house so I pushed a dresser in front of the door to keep him out.
Later, in high school, I remember lying in bed with a knife under my tear-stained pillow. I believed the lie that no one would really care, that no one would even miss me. By the sheer grace of God, I fell asleep exhausted and sobbing, the knife still clutched in my hand. When morning came, things somehow seemed just a little brighter.
The thing is, no matter how long or dark the night seems, God always ushers in the dawn.
Looking back, I can see how the God of the universe reached down from heaven and pulled me out of my pit of despair. He pursues us, even the ones who don’t know Him.
“He reached down from heaven and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy.” ~ Psalm 18:16-17
Sometimes, our periods of depression and despair can feel like a season of perpetual Lent. Many Christians observe Lent, the 40 days before Easter, as a solemn period when we contemplate what Christ did for us on the cross. It points to the depravity of our sins and our inability to save ourselves without Jesus.
Maybe you have been buried inside a tomb of sorrow or suffering. Maybe you are being held captive by lament or bound by loneliness. Life around you feels like death.
Thankfully, the purpose of Lent is not to leave us in despair and sadness. It points us to the hope of the Resurrection, when death and darkness are defeated and new life awaits.
Here’s the great news – we who are in Christ are not meant to live in defeat. We have been promised a victorious life. But victory is impossible in our own strength. He is the Victor and in Him, we have victory.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:57
Resurrection is coming!
Hear the words of Jesus as He cried out to Lazarus, “Come out!”
Friends, it’s time to take off our grave clothes of despair and come out of the tomb.
Because Easter is coming!
On that cold December morning drive to work, as I gripped the steering wheel hard, a song played over the airwaves:
Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can’t do this on my own
I’m letting go
It was the sweet angelic voice of Carrie Underwood. As she sang, the fierce love of Christ pierced through the atmosphere like a lightning bolt and flooded my heart because “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
In Christ, we can proclaim, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
The tomb is empty, friends. I have been to Israel and I have witnessed this glorious sight!
Leave a Reply