I’ve talked quite a bit about Jesus always being there for us and Him understanding our every weakness. But the one most severe weakness we have is hitting rock bottom. Those moments when we feel that God is nowhere near us.
Sometimes it can involve our walk, whether it be our doing or God is teaching us something about who He is. This all begins with a personal experience.
The only way each of us can relate is to find something to relate to. Remember the Bible teaches that Jesus was tempted in every way we were and without sin? This means whatever He faced, He made the right decision.
Jesus has hurt in every way you hurt. You feel the pain of loss; Jesus lost his best friend in Lazarus. You feel betrayed by someone close; Jesus was betrayed by his closest friends. Do you feel abandoned by family? Yes, Jesus felt this too.
This could also be asked: ever felt abandoned by God? Jesus felt that too… on the cross.
“My God, My God. Why have you forsaken me?” The words he spoke on the cross. Now, why did God turn his back on Jesus?
It was for you and me. At that moment, Jesus bore every sin of every person, past, present, and future. Yours, mine, and those who will never accept the free gift. Jesus bore every sin.
The one thing God cannot look upon is sin. So, at that moment, he turned his back on His son. And Jesus felt that. The abandonment. The same abandonment we all feel when sin overtakes our lives. Those moments Satan tries to condemn us? Jesus felt that. The dark heaviness; the evil condemnation; the chasm of separation… Jesus felt it.
And the only way to relieve it was to surrender His life. “Into Your hands I commit my spirit.” He trusted God would be there on the other side. And He was. Three days later, He rose again, defeating death, defeating sin, overcoming the separation that once was.
Now we are reunited with Christ. We are no longer forsaken. No longer are we bound by sin. We have the forgiveness of Jesus. All it takes is admitting that we are sinners, believing that Jesus is the one who died and rose again for those sins, and confessing Him as our savior. It’s that simple.
“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” — Romans 10:13
Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash
Moments for the Heart 