Rise!
"For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
Psalm 100:5 (NIV)
I was the worst in my class at hurdles. Every year brought about the same rendition of “face meet dirt” at the school’s annual sports day. In all honesty, I wouldn’t be surprised if I managed to create a category all on its own; who can accidentally kiss the ground the most within the span of 100m.
It hurt. I felt humiliated. And most of the time, I wanted nothing more than for the ground to go the extra mile and swallow me whole while I lay sprawled on it.
Yet, each year my parents sat cheering; faces aglow with pride. Obviously not due to my lack of accomplishment, but because every time I fell, I got back up on wobbly feet and hobbled on; limping to the finish line.
There will be moments of hardship in this life. Hurdles rising up to make you trip and fall. It will hurt, you will feel humiliated, and you will often wish to be anyone but you. Many wonder why a loving God allows suffering. Why a God who is good and faithful can allow that which He loves so dearly to fall, again and again.
He is shaping our faith, sharpening our resilience, honing our capacity to love, and forging in us the ability to get back up.
When Jesus hung, nailed to that cursed tree, a crown of thorns adorning His head, whip wounds marring His body, He lifted His face to the heavens and cried out “my God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). He knew all He had to suffer, yet, although He is fully God, He is also fully human. Love personified was dying a criminals death of horrific anguish. It wasn’t the nails that kept Him on the cross. It was faith in His Father’s plan, it was resilience of spirit, it was His infinite love for us. And on the third day, He rose again.
During the course of our lives there will be suffering, but in that darkest of places, Jesus stretches out His scarred hands and—for as long as you need—will simply hold you.
When the time comes, He will give you the strength to rise.