I am mindful that when it comes to personal emotional, psychological, and spiritual seasons, some of us may be in the midst of a winter storm while others are enjoying the warmth of summer. Some of us are in a season of sorrow, and others a season of joy. Some are experiencing anxiety, and others are filled with tranquility. There are these contrasting seasons for all humans on this journey of life.
Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, go through these seasons as well. Walking with Jesus does not mean we will have only happy days. Being a disciple of Jesus is not freedom from difficulties. In fact, a life of faith will have its share of troubles and challenges. There will be a cross to carry.
When in stormy seasons, when going through bad times, the Christian has Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who knows firsthand just how bad things can get. He had his own cross to carry and death to die. He had everything thrown at him: his friends scattered, he was ridiculed, denied, betrayed, rejected, abandoned, shamed, disowned, condemned, and killed. He experienced the worst human beings could do to other human beings. He knew we are “a species that will tie one of its own to a stake and strike the match.” That we hang fellow humans on a tree. Bad times and excruciating experiences were not foreign to him. He faced them all. In fact, he triumphed over them all, exchanging good for evil and conquering death with life. He showed us a new way to live. As followers of Jesus, we have before us his transformative, triumphant modelling, especially through the bad seasons. He has walked the walk. He broke the pattern of hate for hate and death for death.
It demanded all he had. He carried his cross and even fell beneath its weight. He sweated drops of blood. Christians are not greater than their master. Following him will have a Via Dolorosa, a way of suffering, a way of sorrows. But, in the very midst of that suffering and sorrow, with our eyes fixed on him, there will be the experience of grace. We will not feel totally without help or care. As if in the eye of the storm, we will know and feel God’s calming embrace and know for certain that we will make it through. Like he did! And making it through, we will be transformed and made new!
Being a disciple of Jesus is not all sunshine. There are dark, cloudy days. There is not abounding happiness every day either. There are heavy, painful days. There is not always understanding and glowing light. Sometimes there is no understanding and no light. It is on those low and dark days, though, that we lean on our Lord totally and completely. We can reach for him, and if only able to touch the hem of his garment, we will experience compassion flow from him to us, and we are strengthened. And like Julian of Norwich, we come to trust that “all will be well and all manner of things will be well.”
We then rise with his compassionate lift. We are held in his loving care, even on the most horrible days. He is our genuine God-friend, and we faithfully follow him because he is truly way, life, truth, love, peace, joy, healing, and reconciliation.
