Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Learning to be held

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Luke 2:36-38
The prophetess Anna was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child Jesus.

Anna may have lived a long time after this moment of holding Jesus. But she surely felt a rich fulfillment as she recognized the grace of God right there in her arms.

How did her life prepare Anna for this moment? So much suffering ... but as Charles Spurgeon wrote: through the fog of sorrow goes the only path toward home, the place where sorrow is unknown. Spurgeon suffered through years of depression and died of chronic illness when he was only 57. And I think he, like Anna, recognized Jesus with gratitude and joy.

My mom, Angie Sandel, is 88 years old, about Anna's age. Right now she's at Carle Hospital in Urbana after an auto accident, when another car pulled out in front of her the day after Christmas. Several of her ribs were fractured, and she's in lots of pain. Over the last eight years she has said goodbye to her husband and sister, as well as many friends.

I think about her suffering, past and present, and about what she is experiencing within herself, especially about how she holds Jesus in her thoughts. I have no doubt that she is doing just that, whether or not she is particularly conscious of it.

And of course, Jesus is holding her too. Just as he held Charles Spurgeon, and Anna the Prophetess.

And just as he holds us all.

When you hold me, Lord, I sometimes don't know what to do. I might even feel uncomfortable. What a mistake that is! Teach me how to be held, Lord, how to be loved. Your strength is so perfect in the face of my weakness.

Devotions Archive

Learning to be held

Thursday, December 30, 2010