Watching

Two weeks to Good Friday. I’ve always thought Good Friday was a misnomer, until I heard a priest give a really good explanation once during a homily. What’s good about the day Jesus was crucified? Two words: Easter Sunday!

=======================================================================

"When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them." –Psalm 34:17

Alicia sends me pictures of herself and Lily often during the week that I can look at so I don’t get too sad at not being with the family every night. It’s a real help. I worry about my family when I’m not there. Being old-fashioned, I tend to think it’s my duty to protect them. I don’t sleep well until I know everyone is in and asleep for the night. Obviously, when I’m out of town, I can’t very well know this, but it still concerns me.

Have you ever watched a baby sleep—especially one of your own? Your heart fills up with an overwhelming love that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time because this child is just too perfect and beautiful. At any sign of distress, you’re there in a heartbeat to soothe and comfort the tears. You would do anything and everything to make sure this baby was protected and happy and cherished. Have you ever thought about how God watches over you the same way, but with an even more intense love?

I wonder if God watches me while I sleep? The answer is, yes, of course He does. What does God think about while He watches us? Does He marvel at how much He loves us? Does He look at us and think of our potential or things we may do? Does God plant seeds in our hearts as we sleep to guide us or steer us in a specific direction?

Scripture points out one thing that is for certain. Life can bring all sorts of crosses to bear—pain and heartache, loneliness and shame, loss and isolation. Trials can be the heaviest and hardest low points to bear and get through, and sometimes it feels impossible for our hearts to handle it alone. It would be easy to become bitter and lose faith; to wonder, is God really seeing this? We can draw from Psalm 34 scripture readings that, yes, God is watching.

In trying times where God seems distant and injustice seems to reign, we have a choice. We can distance ourselves from God or move closer to God. It always seems to come down to faith and trust. As we move towards Easter this is a time to think about Christ and His sacrifice. The Lenten season offers us an opportunity to spend more time with God. My prayer today is for each of us to know the Lord is watching over us and to deepen our relationship with God.

The beautiful thing, though, is that we don’t have to be able to do it on our own. Those times when an unexpected trial finds its way into our lives, Jesus is there to endure the unhappy news with us. He is close and waiting to comfort and strengthen our wounded hearts. We must seek Christ when it’s the most difficult to do so, because that’s when He is the closest.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” -Psalm 34:18