Are you at the end of
your rope today? Have you struggled with an issue for so long that your stress bank
is overdrawn? I was there until God spoke into my heart one day:
I knew without looking at the calendar what
day it was: the anniversary of our first-born’s death. Stacie was born with a
heart defect and struggled to live a day. Her April birthday generally falls
within the Easter season.
This year, as emotions
pulled me back five years, it felt like I was experiencing her death all over
again. Our pastor was doing a Lenten series on people at the cross, taking one
person per week and looking at the crucifixion from their point of view. This
Sunday morning the person was Mary, the mother of Jesus.
I ached for Mary as she
looked on while the riotous crowd
chose to set the criminal Barabbas free. She
had to know what the consequences of their decision meant for her son. She
followed Him along the Via Dolorosa as He dragged Himself up the hill,
stumbling from weakness and loss of blood. She was part of the crowd watching
at the cross as He slowly died. There isn’t any mention of her weeping during
any of this. She exhibited strength in the midst of excruciating difficulty,
possibly willing that strength to help her son through this ordeal, as mothers
sometimes do.
There I sat on that
April morning, on a weathered pew, immersed in Mary’s world. I ran through the
similarities and differences in us and our situations. At least my child didn’t have to suffer like yours did, I spoke in
my heart to Mary. I thanked God for sparing me that and for knowing me well
enough to know I couldn’t have survived it. Still, I coveted Mary’s strength. I
wanted it for myself.
And then I heard God’s
voice speak into my soul, “Cathy, I don’t play favorites. The same strength I
gave to Mary, I gave to you.” My spirit immediately lifted as I wrapped my mind
around the fact that God loves me the same way He loves Mary. And He has placed
within me the strength I need to weather any storm. I left church that day buoyed
with a new resolve, a strength I didn’t know I already possessed, and an appreciation
for how God uses people in the Bible to speak to present day needs.
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2
this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2
“Heavenly Father, just
as Moses and his people sang to you long ago, You are my strength and my song.
I will praise and exalt You. Affirm the strength you have placed in the women who are reading this today. Give them a renewed sense of hope for what you are doing in their lives. Amen.”
CATHY BIGGERSTAFF
writes children’s literature, Christian devotions and poetry. She is published
in Pearls of Promise, a Devotional Designed to Reassure You of God’s Love,
Mature Living Magazine, ChristianDevotions.us, and is a guest blogger. Cathy is
the Director of The Encouragers Christian Writers Group and is on the
leadership team for Write2Ignite! Writers Conference. She is also known as
“Jewel the Clown” in a Christian clown ministry and uses this unique method to
reach people for Christ. Join Cathy as she blogs her “Joyful Journey” at http://www.cathybiggerstaff.blogspot.com
and contact her at hiskid410@gmail.com
