EXPLORING GOOD FRIDAY

Why aren't my prayers being answered?

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” - Matthew 27:46

On Good Friday, we witness a third unanswered prayer - perhaps the most agonizing of them all. Nail to a cross and slowly suffocating, the Son cried out to the Father: "Why have you forsaken me?"And there was no response from heaven. No dove descending. No booming voice. No answer to prove the question wrong.

Day 14: Big Red Switch

Pause

“Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, ‘ Be my Lord!’ Without you, nothing makes sense.” - Psalm 16:1-2

Reflect

  • Bible: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” - Matthew 5:4

  • Book: “Sammy and I would not want to go back, of course, to the dark days of brain surgery. But neither would we want to go back to the days before our lives were hijacked by fear. I guess we prefer the people we have become through all these contradictions.”

Ask

  • Is there something in your life right now that does not make sense?

  • What brings you comfort when you feel lost, confused or sorrowful?

  • Can you see any positive ways in which the Holy Spirit might be using your sorrow for good?

  • Are there any signs of God changing you in some way through these difficult times?

  • If God were to hand you a big red switch to solve your problem and heal your pain, would you flick it without hesitation? Why or why not?

Yield

I open my right hand and, naming my deepest dread, I make the difficult decision to relinquish control. Amen.



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