All that he carries

It was a very early 6:15 am and we were pulling out of Las Cruces, NM, headed to Phoenix.

As we exited the campground, I was especially looking forward to picking up early morning coffee from one of our favorite, but seldom happened-upon coffee shops in town.

As Steven turned onto the highway, he said we’d get coffee along the way. Noting my disappointment, he realized he’d forgotten about the favorite coffee shop. I reminded him too late, so we drove on.

Not having coffee is a very first-world problem, I know. Having any cup of coffee is not a necessity for living - I am very much aware that coffee every morning is a luxury.

On this particular morning, there was to be no coffee at all, though we looked for the next two hours, traveling through the desert. And so, uncaffeinated, I was not in a particularly benevolent mood and neither of us had much to say.

True confession . . .over coffee.

As Lent begins and I consider Jesus’ sacrifice, I am convicted by this shallow incident along with all the others that Jesus will carry for me to the cross. I consider how much I contribute to the pain of His journey . . .

And I hang my head.

I am ashamed that I would carelessly heap this and many other such trivial complaints on Him as He travels the road to Calvary. My backbreaking sins will weigh on His shoulders oppressively, and I will stand by with nothing on mine.

And yet, my loving Savior will humbly carry them for me.

For all of us.

Our sins are the jagged thorns that will pierce His brow and the tortuous spikes that will pound into His hands and feet. They are so agonizing that we could never carry them. And yet he bears all for us.

And so this Ash Wednesday, I enter the season of Lent with earnest reflection and gratitude for all He’s done.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    

it was our sorrows that weighed him down.


And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    

a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    

crushed for our sins.


He was beaten so we could be whole.
    

He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53:4-5 NLT

May we never forget…

Amen.

Today is a GOOD day!

Natalie