Jesus Rebuilds People
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
-- John 11:25-26
One thing I love about Beth Moore bible studies is that she can take a familiar passage and really make you think about the words. We've all read this section about Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We've seen the illustrations of Lazarus walking from the tomb, trailing his burial clothes.
But couldn't the same passage be applied to anyone who is rising up from a season of devastating grief or heartbreak? Doesn't Jesus also raise us up from the ashes that our lives can become, strengthening us and filling us with hope? That was the point Beth made. I think she's right.
Few people have lived without experiencing death up close, whether it's the death of a loved one or the death of a dream. Life changes and we change with it, whether we choose to or not. We don't always acknowledge how devastating those changes can sometimes be. Like losing a job you loved and expected to have until you retired. Like sending a child off to college. Like waking up one day and realizing that all your dreams have been cast aside and you are filled with nothingness.
It's easy to shut down. Numbness seems to dull the pain. Better not to think about it than to face the grief and walk through it. But we must. The alternative is a life that never goes any further than it is today. It is a life lived in shadows of defeat rather than the light of victory.
Jesus offers us a better way. He promises to resurrect our lives for His glory. He gives us hope and courage to rebuild, to believe that tomorrow can and will be a better day. Don't let yourselves merely go through the motions. Rise up. Reach up. It's never too late to let Jesus show you how to be all He intended for you to be.
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