I feel terrible today.
The weight of the world feels like it is slowly getting heavier on my shoulders. I feel caught in that ugly place of confusion, frustration, weariness, selfishness, lonliness, and exhaustion.
This is one of those days where I feel like everyone is just waiting for me to fail and like I have nothing to give.
But Jesus has risen.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20
You see, whether we want to admit it or not, we are human beings.
We are needy, broken individuals who, if left to our own devices, allow our perspective to become narrow and our actions harmful.
On our own we do not always feel loved, or like we even have the ability to love others. On our own we dig ourselves deeper into despair or whatever bad feeling exists and we isolate ourselves from any form of true intimacy.
"I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
Jesus has risen.
Meaning we don't have to stay in frustration, isolation, or fear. Meaning that as we die to ourselves and imitate Christ's humility, as we share in his sufferings, we can also share in his resurrection.
"We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." - Romans 6: 2-4
The celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is a reminder that Jesus can breathe new life into our humanity, and has empowered us through his Holy Spirit to be an agent for resurrection everywhere we are.
You are not "just a" mom or dad, you are not "just a" employee, you are not "just a" ordinary person.
You are someone with the ability to influence those around you wherever you go, to live the power that comes from having Christ live in us and through us.
We don't have to be perfect, just willing. Willing to let God work in our hearts to bring true healing and intimacy with Him, so that we can be that for others and ultimately point them to Jesus.
"The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Happy Easter! Can't help but feel that last bit is directed at me...since I just said those words to you a few days ago. Thanks for your encouragement and willingness :)
ReplyDeleteHaha maybe a little bit, but it's mostly the prevailing feeling I hear from a lot of people. It's what I often tell myself. I'm "just a" whatever.
ReplyDeleteThank you for how you encourage me as well and for displaying what it means to be a follower of Jesus :)