Post 122

Of all the poignant passages of scriptures in my canon, none is so painful for me to read as are the various accounts in the four gospels of Jesus' crucifixion. But in that most painful story, there is one point that is, for me, the epitome of suffering, and that is Christ's exclamation given to us by Matthew and Mark, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Jesus suffered a lot--certainly more than this little butterfly can comprehend--but I think that that was the most painful moment. I am sure that His Father had lovingly sustained Him from Gethsemane through His bogus trials and all the way to the cross, but in that moment when the Father withdrew, Christ the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, cried out to Him from the depths of His soul, "My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?"

I don't pretend to know all the whys and hows of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, so I will not attempt to explain why God withdrew in that moment, but I point to that as a singular experience, one that we can never fully empathize with.

When we sin, we separate ourselves from God. By choosing to do things that He would not have us do, we choose to remove ourselves from His guidance and protection. Thus we may often find ourselves feeling forsaken by God, but such is never really the case; we never have cause to shout, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" but rather, "My God, my God, why have I forsaken thee?"--it's a big difference and an important one.

I know what it's like to be distanced from God. I have been one acquainted with the night, feeling alone and forsaken. But I invariably find that God, in all His unchangeableness, doesn't move far from where I last found Him, and if I can find the strength to get up and return, He will consecrate my efforts to do so.

Change can be hard, but it's always possible. I believe that the Atonement of Jesus Christ not only cleanses us but actually strengthens and enables us so that we don't have to make the same mistakes repeatedly. If we seek God, He'll seek us and help us to find Him. "Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you."

We are only as forsaken as we choose to be. Unlike Christ, who was perfectly sinless but had to be forsaken to descend below all things, we never have to be left alone for He will never forsake us if we cleave unto Him.

I sometimes do things that I know I shouldn't, and I can sometimes feel myself drifting away from God, but I know that returning is always possible and that separation is never necessary. Hope reigns supreme, for Christ has conquered all; we need only to stay as close to Him as we can and all will be well.