Healing Truth

I've known this by heart since childhood, words of life and newness: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was (and is) God." I hold another translation, new and fresh, see the words leap from the page into my heart:

 "Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking. The Voice was and is God. This celestial Word remained ever present with the Creator. His speech shaped the entire cosmos.

Immersed in the practice of creating, all things that exist were birthed in Him. His breath filled all things with a living, breathing light- a light that thrives in the depths of darkness, blazes through murky bottoms. It cannot and will not be quenched." (The Voice)

 Meaning flows over me like music. Jesus became the part of God humanity can touch. He reached out and placed hands on the diseased, the helpless, the shunned. He gave new life to the dying, the broken of heart, and still today the Voice shines clear, reaching out to all who choose to draw near. Jesus, meaning "the Lord Saves" those who question, those who don't understand, and especially, those in need of Hope. There is much darkness in this world; there is loss and pain, but there is also Light... a light that thrives in the depths of darkness. A light that brings hope and healing.

 The Voice took on flesh and became human and chose to live alongside us. We have seen Him, enveloped in undeniable splendor—the one true Son of the Father—evidenced in the perfect balance of grace and truth. (John 1:14) 


Truths in a jagged life can be hard, leave me gaping. I've been in the place where truths left me empty. Diagnosis can sometimes bring more questions, harder questions. Labels can be terrifying, futures frightening, yet there is one Truth that heals, existing as the God-man who uniquely knows our pain. His Voice was, and is, the complete balance of grace and truth. Intimate anguish mingled with God's heart view, that sees and knows and comforts. The Safe One who allows our questions- welcomes our authenticity, no matter how ragged. The heart that cries out for him will always be held.   


So question. Be real with him, for this One has been real with humanity. Real flesh, real blood, real skin that bled and organs that failed. Real hands that held, and lips that spoke words of life and healing. Real feelings, real emotions, very real grief. He knows every bit of us- intricately.  In the fullness of time-at exactly the right moment- the Light that shines into the deepest, darkest places of the heart came to a flawed and needy humanity. He walked as one of us.  

He knew struggle and sadness, physical and emotional agony. His feet had real scars, his heart knew deep grief. His tears were authentic, borne of profound mourning. He lived in the broken places of this life too, and he knows every pain and trial we face. He knows.

In the questioning, in the place of agonizing authenticity, I find more of Jesus. His life, his perspective, his strength, his divine power moving me forward, leading me into His plans and purposes for me. I speak a healing truth once more: His presence is the gift in suffering. In Immanuel is the light that thrives in the depths of darkness, God with Us, the One Truth who Heals.


~Just Me






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

That time When God Told Elijah to take a Nap

Ya'll, it's been a rough few months. Heck, it's been a rough year. It's the anniversary of the week when COVID-19 brought unprecedented changes. Many lost their jobs as businesses closed and the economy suffered. I was in that number. My family has been fortunate... just before the COVID assistance stopped, a door opened to teaching position, and I found myself going back to public school after 20 years. #thingsIneverthoughtwouldhappen #theOnlydoor I've heard it said that "There is no tired like Teacher Tired." After 5 months of long hours and multiple huge projects piled on all at once (plus a steep learning curve in a new grade level) I can attest that this is truth. I have not felt this tired since the year that my oldest son spent months in and out of the hospital on a monthly and weekly basis.  There is an exhaustion that goes beyond the physical and seeps into the very psyche. All of who I am, physically, emotionally, and spiritually has been excepti
Read more

The Big Why

A loved one asked me recently, "Why did God cause this to happen? What lesson are we supposed to learn?" The context, of course,  was the COVID-19 Quarantine. Here's the thing: I don't believe God caused this to happen. Just like I don't believe God "gave " my oldest son Type 1 Diabetes at the age of four, or depression and anxiety at the age of 16. I don't believe God "caused" my husband to have PTSD or my other son to have a sensory disorder due to birth trauma (God did not cause the birth trauma either). God caused none of this. My loved one replied to my assertion, "But He allowed it. He's got to want us to learn something from it." The underlying question is: Why does God allow suffering? And one of the big myths of the Christian faith is "so that we can learn something from it". Now, before you get overly excited about me calling this a myth, just take a moment to breathe and "Listen to UNDERS
Read more

Beauty For Ashes

 God's timing is perfect. Even when we are broken. Even when our whole world is falling apart. Even when we are on the floor weeping and wailing and crying out in anguish.  Before we even glimpse our healing, God is already behind the scenes working. Preparing the Way for us. Providing for needs we did not even know we had. Little did I know when I was sobbing on the hard, cold bathroom floor, God was moving. He was preparing something so beautiful... something beyond what I could have imagined.  Psalm 30:11-12 says,  You turned my wailing into dancing,  You removed my garments of mourning, and clothed me with joy,  that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever.   The Voice version says:  You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing! When God told me, "It's time to cease mourning and get up and dance", He knew the gift that was on the horizon. Not that the grieving process is irrevocably over, but there wa
Read more