And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46
He lay on the table in anguish, strapped down like some criminal. Enduring an hour-long scan and all of the medical necessities that came with it was beyond my two year-old’s comprehension and almost more than my mama’s heart could bear. When he reached his breaking point and could no longer lay there just taking it, he looked my way in desperation and called out, “Mama, aaaaallllllll done,” just knowing that I would be the one to step in and rescue him. With everything that was in me, I wanted it all to be over. With all of the love that a mother can hold, I wanted him to know that I had not abandoned him. Even though I had willingly chosen this plan, I wished there was another way. Wasn’t there an easier way?
But in that moment, I didn’t save him.
As his mom, I knew this procedure was necessary – a means to a greater end. The pain he had to endure would serve a greater purpose. The price he had to pay would ensure his ultimate healing. It was the plan all along. And so out of love he would stay. Out of love, I helped hold him there.
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How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Though our earthly relationships can give us a small taste, nothing can compare to the depth of love the Father has for us. For who would give their beloved son over to die a hero’s death for a deserving people, let alone sacrifice His perfect, only Son to die a criminal’s death for a people who would despise Him, torture Him, and ultimately crucify Him using the most inhumane methods of earthly suffering?
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
But as His Father, God knew the cross was necessary – a means to a greater end. The pain Jesus had to endure would serve a much greater purpose. The price He had to pay would secure our ultimate healing. It was His plan all along. And so out of love He would stay. Out of love, He held him there.
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
And though I’m tempted to take my own sin far too lightly and jump straight into the beauty of the season, our visit to the stable would be incomplete without a visit to the cross…
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
Jesus coming to Earth as a baby – becoming God with us – made him fully God and fully man. And with His sovereignty fully intact, His coming meant leaving heaven, taking on flesh, veiling His glory, being rejected by man, and being forsaken by God. Jesus became sin, taking the full-blown wrath of God that should have been on you and me. He became sin because we needed a Rescuer. He became sin because it was the will of His Father. He became sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus was forsaken for a moment so that you and I could be free for eternity.
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrectionWhy should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom– Stuart Townend
This Christmas, no earthy gift can compare to the depth of love the Father has for us. If we only really knew just how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, our questions would be fewer, our praise would be greater, and the restlessness and longing in our hearts would turn into peace.
Child of God, you have not been forsaken. This isn’t the end of your story, because the stable leads to the cross and three days later… a risen King. Jesus came so that you can have life, and have it to the full.
May this hope in us light up the darkness this Christmas.
At His feet,
Let’s talk: When are you most prone to feel forgotten? How can you fight against these feelings with Truth?
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This will be a day full of sweet tears, tears of gratitude for the gift I have been given. When you wrote “a visit to the stable would be incomplete without a visit to the cross” you took e back to a couple of years ago, I couldn’t find a topper for my tree. A star didn’t make it, the angel wouldn’t do, and I saw a small crown of thorns pendant and knew this is what I needed, now to see it done. I was cleaning a couple days later, when my middle son brought into me a crown of thorns he had made me to sit a top our tree and it has had it’s place of honor there ever since. A baby down below, a crown of thorns way up top, to always remind me of that very thought, “I can’t visit the manger, without visiting the cross!” Thank You Whitney for a most beautiful post!! Merry Christmas!! Thank You Jesus!! <3
That is the exact sentence that stood out to me, too, Deanna! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful memory.
Wow! I’ve been struggling with feeling God’s love for me. I’ve recently gone through very traumatic events in my life that I’ve looked at as if God could have stopped instead of allowing them to happen. Why would He inflict so much pain on me if He truly loved me? I have felt like He has forsaken me. Left me to fend for myself. There are days when I can barely breath the pain in my heart and mind are so intense. Why would a loving God allow this? So, I’ve been struggling with feeling His love. I’ve been taught all of my life about the knowledge of God’s love, but that knowledge hasn’t helped much. But your own illustration of your son lying there, begging for you, his mom. You having the power to step in and scoop him into your arms and take away his fear, and his pain…immediately. That may be the best counsel I’ve received. To view His love from this perspective, well, it changes how I’ve been thinking that God feels about me. You knew it was for the best for your son to not only keep him there, strapped down, but to also help others keep him there. That scan may have only took minutes. But to a two year old it seemed liked an eternity. This pain in my life seems like it keeps going on and on. Why can’t a Sovereign God end this pain right now? Because He knows that it is the best for me His child. He’s never forsaken me. He’s right here with me. Even when I can’t see Hin…He can see me. The end result is beauty for ashes.
Thank you for this devotion. Because you listened to the Holy Spirit, you’ve changed how I see the love of God.
Oh Marie, you are so loved and never alone! It’s amazing to me how much we are loved and how God knits our lives from beginning to end. I have wondered many times “why”? But am learning to instead ask what I need to do, what am I supposed to learn from this? I pray that you find comfort and peace in your situation and always know you are loved!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
Maria, God is so good that He brought you here to read that, to let it minister to your heart. God is always with us, especially in our darkest hours. That’s when He brings us to Him and we see Him at work, because we do get through it and have been molded a little bit more into His likeness. You are more loved than you will ever fully comprehend!! God will never leave You…ever!!! Merry Christmas my sweet sister in Christ!!
Marie, I am so sorry to hear you have been going through something so trying! It is so incredible to see God’s plan work out, but hard when we can’t see it. As I was reading your comment, I was thinking about 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 where Paul is talking to the Corinthians: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It wasn’t by his (Paul’s) own strength that he got through any of the insults, hardships, persecutions, or difficulties. It was by God’s strength. You being led to read today’s blog is just one beautiful example of God helping build your strength through your time with Him.
Father, I lift Marie up to You this morning. We know that you are with her, walking right beside her, as she walks through this valley in her life. You Word says in Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME…” It doesn’t say You will pull us out, but that You are there with us as we walk THROUGH it. Thank You for walking with Marie, thank You for holding her up, thank You for giving her the strength she needs, thank You for helping her feel Your loving embrace. In Jesus’s name, amen.
A savior to be praised. Believers we must act like and peace we shall have. He is worthy to be praised. Amen!! Amen!!
Amen Jennifer!! Merry Christmas!!
Our Christ knows true feelings of abandonment and despair, because of his perfect, face to face relationship with the Father. At that moment those were his feelings because God poured out his divine wrath on him as the all sin-bearer, my sin. Something I will never fully understand. But there are times I have a small glimpse of abandonment and despair through my own deep trials and pain. Christ knows fully and understands. God has a much larger plan through them. That’s when I take hold of and just hold on to God’s beautiful promises. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Deut.31:6; Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5. “I will not, I will not cease to sustain and uphold you. I will not, I will not, I will not let you down.” Thank you sweet Jesus! Merry Christmas.
I love those same promises Connie!! We serve such a mighty and faithful God!! Merry Christmas to you too!!
So beautifully written, Whitney. Thank you for sharing your personal story too, I can feel with that pain of a mother watching her child go through hard things. The picture of God allowing His Son to go through the torment on the cross for a short time to save us. The ultimate goal is always what we prepare for. What a glorious day that will be. Thank you, and God bless you this Christmas season.
Janeen, it is so true that the ultimate goal is what we must be preparing for. Though we may not know what God’s plan is for our individual lives, we do know that the ultimate goal will be magnificent! God bless you this Christmas season as well!
I can’t imagine what you are going through, as a mom, Whitney. The only thing I can relate to is when my 8 month old son had to be pulled away from my arms to have a surgery. That broke my heart. But he got through it and 18 years later is doing great! I praise God for his sweet mercy on Joseph’s life. I loved your blog today! I can never hear enough of how much Jesus sacriced himself on that cruel cross for me. I don’t always understand why he did it, for an old sinner like me, but He did Bec of His great love and mercy. I have been ministering to a couple of friends that have gone through difficult times in their lives. I have to constantly remind them that God NEVER leaves them, no matter what. We are the ones who move away from Him. I have already sent them this blog. Thank you for writing this today and listening to the Holy Spirit’s direction.
I guess when I’ve felt my prayers continuously being repeated without results (results I want of course) I feel abandoned. But not abandoned by His love, I know He’s near, always. Love studying His coming to earth humbly because I tend to forget humbleness is what I NEED TO HAVE!
Powerful!!!!!!!!!!!! Really spoke to my heart and spirit.
So many time I have believed the lie that God was distant or that I was all alone.This message helped me to realize that a Father who would give everything to be with me, even the life of his own son, is not going to abandon me when times get tough. He isn’t waiting for me to “get it all together ” he is waiting with arms wide open for me do accept his embrace. Thank you for helping me to demolish this stronghold in my life and replace it with the truth of God’s word. Merry Christmas and God Bless!
Amen, Rebekah! Thank you so much for sharing your heart!
I’ve been struggling lately to humble myself and accept the current struggle. We are a week away from payday. We have no money, no good, running out of gas to get to work, to go to church and our ministry at an assisted living home, to drive our kids to school… Since my husband left a bi-vocational role under an unbiblical pastor, it’s been a constant financial struggle. We could ease the been by taking our kids out of a private Christian school, but they are so happy there and getting an excellent academic and biblical education. That $800 each month would be huge! We reach drive almost 20 year old vehicles–his suddenly has an issue with the brake lights that may be caused by a headlight that went out, but we can’t buy another light right now. So, we can only drive it when lights aren’t required. It’s winter and daylight hours are scarce. My car has bald tires, but the saving grace is that the shocks and struts need replaced, so the car rides low and keeps weight over the wheels.
Our children are a 12 year old son and 10 year old daughter. We suspect our son may be on the autism spectrum with a sensitivity disorder, but there are financial and social challenges with having it diagnosed. He would not seem so initially, until you add up his high level of shyness with anxiety that comes from any kind of change in routine and other things. He’s becoming very thin because he will only eat a very limited list of foods, none of which we have right now.
My biggest struggle is asking God to take this all away. It’s so hard to realize that his plan could be for us to lose everything. Even with all of these issues, we are SO very fortunate to have a roof over our heads, cars, jobs, healthy children, freedom. How can I possibly expect him to favor me in my trials when so many others are suffering so much worse?
I know God loves me. I also know the suffering He allowed His son to endure for me. How can I expect to have this cup pass, if it’s His will?
Oh Lori, my heart goes out to you! As I was reading your comment, I kept thinking of the book of James. In James 1:2-4 he says:
“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I know that it may look dark right now, but praise God because He will get your through it! And what a marvelous testimony it will be when He does! Keep leaning on Him and know that you are being prayed for!
Oh Lori, when we are tested it always seems like we won’t make it, and we won’t, we must get our strength through Christ who strengthens us. My go to verses, Matthew 11:28-30, ” 28 Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto Your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” KJV
Abba Father, I come humbly before You to lift up Lori and her family. I ask that They seek Your kingdom first, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Help the to not be anxious in nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let their requests be made known to You and the peace of God, which passes all understanding shall keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Remind them that You want them to bring their EVEry need to You, little to big, You want them all. You are big enough to handle everything they are facing, You have already gone before them, and are working on it, let them put their trust fully in You. I ask that You give them wisdom and guidance in all their decisions, that You know what’s in their future. I ask for a financial blessing to help them get to work, to pay their bills, to put food on the table. You are Jehovah- jireh, our God who provides. Let them see Your hand in their life as they have never seen it before. Thank You Lord. I ask for a hedge of protection to be placed around them and that every dart the enemy throws will not prevail. You are a mighty God!! Bless each of them, let them be still and know You are God. Thank You. I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Prince of Peace, Mighty God. Amen <3
Thank you all for sharing Christ’s love and your victory through grief.
Indeed as this will be the first Christmas without my husband, his loss was heaven’s gain.
When my son and I were still believing our Lord to bring him back to life like what He did to Lazarus. the Holy Spirit told me on the morning of the cremation (on Nov.30, 2016 that He had already resurrected my husband. ( our children’s pa pa). I told my son that was a confirmation from our Lord that my husband (the children’s pa pa) is with Him at His banqueting table.
I praise and thank the Lord that “because He lives, we can face tomorrow.” He live that we have life eternal. Our lord Jesus came for that purpose———–the Crucifixion, His work was done at the Cross———–without the Cross there is no salvation. Thank Abba Father for sending your only Son to us. He was not murdered, He gave His life for us willingly.
hi,I am Christian belive in God, but my husband not,he alwayspeaks bad about faith, he is also not good with me,many times give me a hit in spite I am 72 y old. I think God don’t think on my