40acts: The Lent Generosity Challengeনমুনা

‘Jesus wept.’ The shortest and one of the most powerful verses in the Bible. It reminds us that Jesus is familiar with emotional pain. 

Jesus wept over Lazarus’ death even though He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. Knowing He was going to completely turn the situation around didn’t stop Jesus from allowing others to mourn what was lost. 

There’s something freeing about an open invitation to come as you are. So often we are expected to just handle struggles and difficulties, encouraged to ‘have faith’ and ‘not lose heart’.

But, in this particular instance of raising someone from the dead, Jesus doesn’t condemn those mourning for not believing Him. His tears are an invitation for them to grieve also, to know it’s okay to be upset. We are seen, loved and comforted when we have the strength to be hopeful and when we don’t.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day in the UK typically known as a happy, love-filled day, but that isn’t the case for everyone.

The truth is, we may never truly know what someone has been through or is currently facing – even those closest to us. Occasionally they might drop the veil and let us see their own private battle, but in general we tend to catch the highlights. 

 Maybe the man you’re sitting next to on your morning commute is silently grieving the loss of his mother, whilst battling with voices in his head that say ‘pull yourself together’.

Maybe the couple at church who dedicates their time to teaching Sunday school has struggled for years with infertility.

Maybe the lady at number 31 who always smiles when she sees you is struggling as she remembers the abortion she never wanted to have.
 

Perhaps you know someone dealing with the grief of losing a child.

 All true stories. And that is why an open invitation is so vital.

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 Find more about today’s 40acts challenge on our blog:   

https://40acts.org.uk/act-22-open-invite/