It hit like a blow. Sudden, unexpected. Punch-to-face?… no, punch-to-the-soul betrayal, treachery. Subtle subterfuge, secret sabotage. Again! When I thought (foolishly) it was over, for good and all. Selling out for… for what? It’s mad!
Does repeated treachery lashing our own lives deepen our bonds with His wounding? Even with strokes up to thirty-nine? Does our own renewed betrayal and abandonment by those so close — seemingly close — jolt our hearts awake to His?
If so, there’s reason to rejoice in this unreasonable, there’s cause to call out praises for our causeless soul slights and those shaming slaps to our psyches.
“I want to know Christ
and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His suffering…”
said Paul.
Is it possible to know the first fully,
and the second more than symbolically,
if we do not experience the third?
If need for such pain be the case, good reason arises to rejoice in unjust anguish — good cause for accounting such trials… for joy. As He Who “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame…”
New meaning emerges for “let patience have its perfect work…”
Reflecting deeply this morning on His betrayal, dishonor, pain, grief, and shame…
and thanking God for life slights and soul blows.
As for those who betray bound words and scourge the spirit, who prove to be “those by whom offense comes” …
For such we pray.
As He prayed.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they’re doing”
Father, forgive them even if they do know what they’re doing.
Oh, I like that last line there . . . “Forgive them, even if they do know what they’re doing.” I don’t know if anyone ever fully knows what he or she is doing – I don’t think I do – but how wonderful would it be to get to that point, to be able to say those words. “Father, forgive them, even if they do know what they’re doing.” Oh, how I need that kind of forgiveness!
Thank you for this beautiful post today, this reminder that we’re not called to a life of comfort and ease, that there will be suffering, but that suffering draws us closer to Him.
Prayers for you.
So good to “see” you today, Mary! Thank you for prayers — which we all can always use. (So prayers for you, too, in return.) And may you enjoy an especially blessed Resurrection Day tomorrow!
Praying forgiveness over someone else’s sin against us is a very powerful prayer…the sort of prayer that God uses to change lives…
Hm, Joe, good thought. And yes, I think you’re right. I have, in fact, seen change already. We (I) just sometimes expect perfect and complete change, almost instantly — and who has that, this side of heaven?
Thanks for the blessing. And God bless your day!