Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30

 

I’m not Jesus, but there are certainly times when I identify with him. It happened a short time ago as I put the finishing touches on the devotional THE DAY MY LIFE CHANGED. I felt such relief, realizing I had finally expressed all I needed to of the pain that had been part of my life following a period of trauma.

Jesus said “It is finished” as he hung on the cross when he knew that his work was done. Those same words sprang to mind when I realized I had said all that needed to be said about the pain I had undergone. I wanted to forgive those who had hurt me. Bitterness gone.

“It is finished.”

As if in the arms of a mother who had too long been distant, I cried in the arms of my Lord. I felt the compassion I’d needed so long. Was finally able to let the pain go – no longer having to write. My heart felt freer. Cleaner.

But not long after, I started feeling another emotion. I found myself grieving the loss of all that had once been. I grieved all that I had once needed but was no longer mine. Not pain this time. Not bitterness. Just sadness. I still don’t have my need for discussion with other Christians met.

I felt like an orphan. And I wondered. Will I be an orphan forever?

I wondered too about Jesus when he hung on the cross and called to his Father: “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) Did he too feel like an orphan?

But what occurs to me now is that we don’t need to be orphans forever. Our Father God is always with us. We only need to take the time to link up with him, to spend time with him, to find closeness as we connect. We can talk to him all we want and, if we listen carefully, he will respond.

With God, we’re never orphans.

Praise be to God our Father!

marja