Your Daily Devotional for September 6, 2006

 

September 6, 2006

 

Wounded by Loss

by Dr. Paul Chappell

  

“And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

 

John 20:14-16

 

The Apostle John tells the story of Mary at the empty tomb of Jesus. When most people think of the resurrection, they think of joy and hope. If we look at this story through Mary’s eyes, we see initial fear, doubt, and loss.

 

Mary Magdalene was possessed with demons before she knew Christ. When she met Christ, He redeemed her and brought her out of that sin. She then followed Christ and learned from Him. After His death and burial, she was one of the three women who came to the tomb on the third morning. After she had seen the open tomb, she began to weep. She felt such pain and loss.

 

In these verses, we see Mary crying in the garden. Unbeknownst to her, Christ is there with her. Just as He was with her in her time of need, so Christ is with us. He knows the loss you are struggling to accept. He realizes your deep pain, and He wants you to know that He is with you.

 

Perhaps you’ve lost someone or something very special to you. In a single moment of time, your life changed. He is still in control and He knows your needs. The psalmist says in Psalm 39:7, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” Why suffer the pain of loss on your own? Christ is there to help you through.

Elisabeth Elliot once said, “To be a follower of the crucified Christ means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss.… The great symbol of Christianity means sacrifice and no one who calls himself a Christian can evade this stark fact. It is not by any means an easy thing to recognize, within a given instance of personal loss, the opportunity it affords for participation in Christ’s own loss.”

Christ knows what you are going through and He has provided the strength you need to get through your time of loss. If you will turn to Him and give your pain and burden to Him, He will give you the grace and strength you need. You may be wounded by loss, but remember, Christ will comfort you. Reach out to Him today.

 

 

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