All thorns, no roses

 

You have reached the point where you hesitate to say, "It can't get any worse" since that's what you thought 3 days or 3 weeks or 3 months ago....and it did.  It got worse.  Lots worse.  And you wonder when the free fall is going to stop.

It doesn't matter where you started, how high you were; it doesn't matter if your free fall looks like child's play to someone else.  It's your free fall and you wonder, how come all I get is thorns and no roses?

Truth be told, if you are still able to even utter those words, you haven't reached bottom yet.  You haven't reached the point where all you can do is concentrate on breathing in and breathing out.  You make no plans for tomorrow since you are not sure you even want tomorrow to come.  You put one foot in front of the other.  You get through today, this moment.

Now the word abyss has real meaning and in the midst of this crushing 'nothingness' you can not forms words of supplication; you can not even form thoughts or hopes.  You are as close to the living dead as you ever want to be.  You are naked; living among the dead; held in bondage by the darkness.

Hold on.  Jesus knows where you are and who you are and what you need, and he will cross into enemy territory, brave wild waters, risk hostile and powerful forces for your sake.  For your life.    For you.

There is no creed you must recite, nor ritual you must perform.  Saving you is just what Jesus came to do.  He is the presence in the darkness that wants to lead you to light.  Trust me, I know.  I've been in the darkness myself.

Romans 8.18ff, Luke 8.26ff