While on the road to Emmaus, the Risen Jesus appeared to two of His disciples and walked with them, “but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him” (Luke 24: 16). The disciples were grieving, heartbroken, and stressed, leading their eyes and hearts to be blinded to the fact that Jesus was actually walking and talking with them. It wasn’t until He broke bread with them and blessed it, that “their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24: 31). During times of struggle, heart ache, or stress, do you ever feel like God must have forgotten about you or that He is a million miles away? The other day I was having one of those moments… Our 2 year old had gotten a hold of a glue stick and was rubbing it all over the couch while our middle child was having a tantrum on the floor over a fruit roll, and our oldest son accidently kicked my toe the wrong way and ripped my entire toenail off. I’m bleeding, he’s crying because he is sad that he hurt me, my couch is covered in glue, and the temper tantrum goes on. I felt like yelling “Calgon, take me away!” At that moment, I wanted to question God and say “Why aren’t You helping me? Where are You?” Then suddenly I felt Him place very gently yet clearly on my heart this very powerful poem: Footprints in the Sand: One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.” -Mary Stevenson Even though I still had to clean up glue and blood and tears, I felt truly comforted knowing that God was with me every step of the way. I felt a sense of peace and clarity because I could trust that God had it all under control, even if I most definitely did not. Whatever struggles we face, whatever heartache we experience, whatever stresses come upon us, know that we are not facing them alone. God is with us, He is on our side, and He is even carrying us when we cannot carry ourselves. For meditation: The disciples could not recognize Jesus in their grief. What are you grieving or struggling with right now that is blinding you to recognizing and experiencing Christ? Ask God to show himself to you. Ask God to open your eyes so that you may recognize the Risen Jesus all around you, in your family, in your friends, and even in your struggles. Seek today to recognize Christ in all people and all situations. Written by Amy Connelly for the OLQA Mom's Group "He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him."
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January 2015
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