Can I say “It is Well” no matter what?
This week has left me feeling overwhelmed and depleted. I hate these feelings!How often do you feel that same way?To refresh my soul, I dug into the Word and asked the Lord to shed his light on the problem.What followed my 2-way conversation with the Lord.Jesus: Julie, think about this past week and list your moments of frustration or defeat. Consider what beliefs you harbored in your soul during those situations. What do you come up with?[I prayerfully made a list.]Me: The majority of my beliefs, causing me to feel overwhelmed, were “shoulds”— I should have planned my time better;I should have been able to figure out that mess;I should have comprehended what someone was telling me.These experiences all left me feeling overwhelmed and incompetent.Several other items on my list were frustrating accidents - like spilling my coffee onto my peanut toast,or falling off the stool while reaching for the top shelf,or hitting the wrong button on the computer interrupting a task.I got really ticked off when those things happened.Jesus: My Dear One, what do you know and believe about “things going wrong” in this world? What have you learned about “shoulds?”I, the Son of Man, know and understand these difficulties. Let me direct you to my experience the hours before the crucifixion. During those hours in Gethsemane and Jerusalem many things went wrong. I was tempted to give in to the belief “This should not be happening to me.”[Time in Scripture to dig deeper.]Me: Thank you for giving me the word, “synergeo” (pronouced soon-nare-gay-oh). It means, you work in partnership with me all that is happening. I love the fact (Mark 16:20) that you went out with the disciples and synergeo with them confirming your WORD. And I have known Romans 8:28 where you promise to synergeo all things for the furtherance of your kingdom.But how did you handle your feelings when you faced the upcoming crucifixion?You felt painful emotions — sorrow, deep distress, overwhelmed, betrayed, and disappointed. You knew you would be arrested, shackled, dragged,spat upon, mocked, lashed, and pierced.You knew that you would end up too weak to do what you should be doing — to carry your own cross.How did you handle these?Jesus: I am the Son of Man, your high priest who understands all that you go through. In the Garden, I struggled with accepting the cup of having to be crucified. I wrestled to settle this question in my heart: “Shall I not drink the cup my Father has given me?” (John 18:11)Hours later, when I was in front of the chief priests,I stated, “From now on, [I] the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” (Luke 22:69)Work that verse through, Julie. You will find your answer there.[Time using the BLB interlinear version of that verse.]Me: In my adaptation, I paraphrase Luke 22:69 as:“I, the Son of Weakness, will dwell and be establishedat the right hand of God’s authority and power.” So, weakness can be managedbecause it is encapsulated by the authority and power of God?Your authority and power have dominion over everything!I am going to write, “When I am ‘weak’, the Right Hand of your power and authority covers me.”The perceived reality of my weakness is overridden by the true reality of Your [GOD’s] authority and power. Wow!Jesus: Does that help? Can you agree with my servant,Jean-Pierce de Cassaude “All is well; It’s God’s will?”Can you really feel this: “I have ordained, arranged and permitted . . . everything that happens to you with a viewtoward my desire to unite you to me?” I love you, Beloved. I desire this transformation of your soul: all that appears weak or “as having failed” is really an instrument to bring you deeper into my grace. Me: Thank you, Dear Lord. Amen and amen. In Christ,