Momentum (Christ – centred, Spirit – empowered, Mission – focused)
One of my favorite pastimes is sitting with my grandchildren and playing Where’s Waldo? Our best moments are when we discover Waldo and yell out together, “There he is!”
What is delightful in a children’s book can be painful when it comes to our spiritual journey. I have found myself asking, “Where is Jesus?” in difficult times. Experiences of deep pain and disappointment can become places where we can get emotionally stuck; we can begin to close off and even shut down spiritually because we do not see Jesus in our most desperate moments.
When our family was transitioning from the West Coast to Ontario, my youngest daughter was in a difficult place. On the day we were moving, she was in her room packing. My wife, Agnes, began to feel uncomfortable about the silence in her room, so she encouraged me to go and check in on her.
When she did not respond to my knocking on her door, I pushed it open. I found her leaning against the wall with her wrist cut and blood pooling on the floor. I was paralyzed in that moment. Praise God we are in a better place today.
But I got stuck back in that room. My biggest question was, “Where were you, Jesus?” Recently, I was encouraged to be still and to ask Him this question.
A vivid picture began to form in my mind. I was beside my daughter, but Jesus was kneeling between my daughter and me with one hand stopping the flow of blood from my daughter’s wrist and the other hand over my heart. He said, “I am healing both wounds.”
I was overwhelmed by the healing grace of Jesus. I am reminded of Martha, the sister of Lazarus, when she said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). In other words, “Where were you, Jesus?”
The response of Jesus is powerful. He does not explain His absence, but rather, declares His eternal presence, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26).
Jesus is always with us, even if we can’t see Him and aren’t aware of him. Healing occurs in His presence; we need to become attentive to Him.
I am writing to people who are stuck. You have a deep wound or a penetrating disappointment that has left you empty and alone. You keep wondering, “Where was Jesus?” Maybe you should ask Him.
Perhaps today is the day you can say, “There He is!”
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2).
Please find the original version in C&MA website