The end of ourselves

Is there a purpose in us getting to the end of ourselves?

In getting to the point of asking “My God, my God why has thou forsaken me?”

How can this place be where God is?

How can anything good come from such pain and feelings of powerlessness and abandonment?

Jesus you have been there.

God of all creation, power and authority - you went there.

You cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have thou forsaken me?”

How can this place of pain and darkness be where God is?

But Jesus you were there, so there must be purpose in this place.

A place were we do come to end of ourselves.

A place where we risk everything.

A place where relationship with God demands full surrender, even when what we know to be true becomes hard to see.

A place where hope and life are obscured by our fallen state of lies, confusion, isolation and darkeness.

Is this place of death the very springboard to life and redemption?

Does full surrender of ourselves to God open up a life we never thought possible?

Jesus you went there.

You surrendered all in a trust unimaginable.

You sacrificed everything in love, feeling a loss and pain for the first time with Father God since before time began.

Lord Jesus, give me grace and trust that even in those times where I come to the end of myself, where my spirit cries, “My God, my God why has thou forsaken me?”

That I remember you.

That in THIS place, this dark and hard and hopeless place, I continue to trust and hope in you. That I remember Jesus you are here, that you know this place well.

Death does come.

But more important than this, help me remember the wonder of the resurrection to follow.

Help me to hold onto you Lord through this night.

Give me strength to surrender, to rest in your mrecy and unfailing love.

Give me eyes to see the night end as you Lord bring in the morning.

Give me voice to praise you as I know you will restore new life and joy in my heart.

Jesus you are here.

When I come to the end of myself, you are here.

Thankyou.