Enough: Lent DevotionalsSample

ENOUGH: DANGEROUS JOY

“Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).” (Matthew 27:46b)

Sometimes life can be crushing. It’s important to acknowledge that.

It’s okay to be unhappy. It’s okay to weep. Even Jesus shouted at the heavens in anguish.

Stare your pain in the face. Name it. Feel it. But then, when your eyes are still raw, say to it, “In spite of you, I am still here. I woke up this morning. Even though things keep knocking me down, I get the chance to stand up again.”

Because beyond all of that is a dangerous kind of joy. The kind of joy that perseveres; the kind of joy that changes the world. Resurrection joy. 

So accept that life is fragile and messy. Then embrace it like never before. Embrace it because you never know when the sky might turn black; embrace it because you never know when a stone might get rolled away.

Dear God, thank You for my life – for both the trials and the triumphs. Thank You that I woke up this morning. Thank You that I get to have another go. Thank You that You work all things together for my good. I accept the difficult things in my life. I turn them over to You. I trust in Your plan. Amen.

Gideon Heugh, Tearfund