When God Intervenes in Our Despair
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5 (NIV)
The poignant movie, Unconditional, is based on true events. This movie beautifully illustrates how God writes our story as we go through crises, hardship, grief and trauma. It illustrates how God uses others to bring healing in ways we never thought possible. Over the coming days, I will take you through the movie and talk about the different characters and events. Today, I will talk about Samantha.
Samantha writes and illustrates children’s books and lives an idyllic life with her husband on their ranch. Her life is shattered when her husband, a kind and generous man, is murdered in an alley during a robbery. Samantha plunges into the depths of despair as her grief overwhelms her. Her faith in God is tested to the point that she loses all hope and doesn’t want to live anymore. When she tries to take her own life in an alley, her attempts are thwarted when she hears a car screeching to a halt. Keisha, a young girl from an impoverished neighbourhood, is hit by a car close to the alley. The driver speeds off, leaving Keisha and her brother, Macon, alone in the rain. Samantha rushes to her aid and takes her to the hospital. Keisha and Macon will play a crucial role in her healing process.
Trace His Hand
When we go through the pain of grief, we feel alone, perhaps even abandoned by God. But we have the truest assurance that Jesus knows our pain and suffering. He is well acquainted with them. This is what Isaiah 53:3 says,
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before He was to be crucified, Jesus felt the anguish and the pain of being isolated from His Abba, Father. He felt alone, misunderstood and abandoned in his darkest moments by His closest companions. Jesus felt the pain that we feel. The pain of grief, suffering and isolation. He is present with us when we go through the rollercoaster of emotions that tell us there is no hope. That tells us our grief and the pain will never end. Just as He intervened in Samantha’s darkest moment, when she felt her life was no longer worth living, He will intervene in our darkest moment with His love, kindness and grace. He will lead us along His quiet waters (Psalm 23:2-3), so that when we look back, we can trace His hand of love that intervened. His heart of love that pulled us out of our dark despair at just the right time and in just the right way. We can trace His hand and heart that restores our souls so that we reap His songs of joy.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Reflection:
Will you give the pain of your grief, sorrow and despair to God so that He can intervene and turn your sorrow to joy?
Prayer:
Lord, You see the pain of my grief and struggles. I give them to You. Come and intervene in my place of pain. I trust You to intervene in Your way and in Your time. In Jesus’ name, amen.
