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The Care Behind Creation Care
from First Connections | Lent 2023
by 1stlkld
Barbara Whetton (Creation Care Co-Chair)
Life is so good...yet my heart hurts. My family is safe, happy & healthy...but I can become so sad!
Sometimes, I think about my immediate world and the things my family, friends, or strangers are going through, and it can bring me to tears! If I linger there too long or let the feelings roll over me regarding the state of our world, the lack of love for God & all of His Creation, which includes loving our neighbors, I weep! It’s fullon sorrow and for a good reason!
There is a lot out there that is really sad, it can be heartbreaking, and it’s ok to go there sometimes! God gave us the ability to feel hurt and question why. Why are all these bad things happening around us? Why are all these bad things happening to us?
But you know what else? We never have to go through any of this sadness alone!
The Old Testament speaks numerous times, like in Joshua 1:5, about God never leaving or forsaking us. He is with us.
He is with us in those “look to the heavens, can’t stop smiling, joy running down your cheeks” happy times and our “face flat on the floor pouring your heart out to God and pleading for His mercy because you can’t take the hurt anymore” moments. He’s there!
He’s there right now as we head into Lent, following Him to the cross! He was right there with the Son of God and son of man as Jesus went to the saddest point in His earthly life. He was not alone! Was he scared, sad, or in more pain than we could imagine? Yes, but He was not alone!
Because of Christ’s suffering on the cross, we too can experience His love, joy, mercy, and kindness all of the time, through the good and bad! He’s always there, rooting us on. He’s our biggest fan saying, “You’ve got this, and I’ve got you!”
Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning!” Sadness, heartbreak, and confusion will happen, but the key is not to go at it alone!
Prayer: Jesus, thank you so much for loving us. Help us to love You more, grow closer to You, and love our neighbors (all of them!) and Your creation the way You want us to! In Your precious name, we pray! Amen!
