"The Chosen" season 4 premiere

Oh boy! How do I get through this one without spoilers? I don’t know, but I am going to try. In case you weren’t familiar, “The Chosen” is a series about the life and ministry of Jesus and His followers. Um,

How much of the plot line do I give you? Hmm. 

Well, it starts off with the death of John the Baptist (that much is in the trailer, so it’s fine.) It follows a theme of “where is Jesus when things get hard?” Sometimes it’s almost harder to follow God when you have seen the miracles. It is even more difficult to stomach the pain when you know someone with the power to make it go away is right there beside you. How do you keep following when Jesus said “no” to healing your pain? How do you explain that to others? 

Man, we are getting into some tough questions, here. First of all, if this message finds you on a day that feels like a never ending night, know that I’m sorry. I may not know you, I may not be there with you, but I understand. No answer I give will erase the pain. No intellectual hoo-haw will erase the sorrow. No response can eradicate the hurt, but I’m here. Jesus is here. He is right beside you in the grieving. It may not feel like it, you may not see it, but He is always right there. 

This message is hard to hear, so if you aren’t ready for it, that’s OK. Take your time to grieve. Take your time to get away from it all and just. Grieve. Take time to flush it out of your system. Don’t try to band-aid it up with silly words and happy songs. 

No.

Just grieve. 

Sometimes, it’s time to just grieve. But you never have to grieve alone. It’s hard, because sometimes the hardship is part of the plan. I wish I could have an answer for every pain, every struggle, every “no” that God gives, but I don’t. It’s the hard part of trust. Like I have said before, I don’t have all the answers, but I have just enough experience to know the keeper of the plans, and I know that He is good. You may not believe it, you may not know Him yet. That’s OK. Pray to Him, stay with Him. You can even be angry at Him. There’s nothing new under the hot red sun that He hasn’t heard, recognized, and died for anyway. The only thing I can ask is that you not turn away from Him. Please, oh please, don’t turn your back on Him. Never forsake Him, and He will never forsake you. 

I can’t express how deeply I want to give you more answers and come to you from a place of authority, saying “here is how it is, and how it should be.” I wish I could come at you like a perfect swordsman, parrying every response, every objection, and every counter-argument to faith that there is. But, alas! That’s not how this works. If the angels could fall from heaven, possessing all knowledge, then what good do answers give us? It’s all about the commitment to the King and holding fast to the belief that He is still doing something good. Some might call it delusion, let them! They will see one day, but that day might wind up being too late.

The one thing I have learned about pain is that it is an excellent gardener. Pain has a way of teaching us lessons that stick with us for years to come. The lessons we learn in our hour of sorrow have a way of shaping us and defining us. Therefore, when pain comes knocking, it’s important to be careful and wary of what we bring into our lives. Our hearts are so tender, so pliable, like putty in life’s hands. Don’t let those hours of crying be a waste. Don’t let those tears fall in vain. Stay glued to the King who is bigger than your crying, who can carry your sorrows. He will always be right there to guide you through. One day you will escape your sorrows, you will see the end of your tears. But only after they have all fallen. Sadly, not a minute sooner. It’s all part of the plan, and the plan is good. You just don’t see it yet, and guess what? That’s completely alright. Just grieve, my friend. Just grieve. 

I’m sorry if you weren’t ready to hear that. I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you. I’m sorry I can’t take all your pain away, and I’m sorry that things aren’t better for you. There’s nothing right or OK about what you are going through, but I can offer you the greatest gift there is to give: companionship of the King. He is there with open arms, waiting to grieve by your side, to make His donation to your puddle of tears. All you have to do is let Him. Oh, dear friend, please; I beg of you, just let the King grieve by your side. Let Him share in your hurts, your anger, your anguish. Let Him be there as I know He will always be. Just let Him sit with you. Let your feelings flow, let them run raw at the feet of the King. Let them flow freely as you confess your sickened heart to the King. He will be there, He will always be there.

Forever and ever

Amen.