"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept." (John 11.33-35)
Years ago, Henry David Thoreau wrote, "many people live lives of quiet desperation." And how true it is! Many suffer great distress and sometimes even those closest to them never know. Why is this? Perhaps we feel that no one, even our closest friends and loved one would really understand. Sometimes, we just don't want to plumb the depth of our feelings. As Jackson Browne wrote in the song "The Late Show," "No one ever talks about their feelings anyway without dressing them in dreams and laughter; I guess its just too painful otherwise."
However, in this Scripture above, Jesus shows that he not only understands the depth of our feelings, he experiences them too! He didn't just "float" into this scene of death and grief. He truly entered the grief of Mary and Martha, his close friends, as they grieved the death of Lazarus.
The message for us? Jesus enters our pain and redeems it. He entered it on the cross and in so many situations like Lazarus' death.
I encourage you today, to share your burdens with Jesus. If that seems hard to do, try writing him a letter, or put an empty chair in front of you and tell your troubles to Jesus (who really is there when you call on him.) A trusted spiritual friend can also help you get those feelings out.
There's no need to live a life of "quiet desperation!" Let Jesus know and he'll help you through.
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