I received a phone call a while back from a guy who wanted to work out some life issues. Unfortunately, I had just arrived at a McDonald’s with my family while being on a family vacation, so I knew that we were limited on time. As the phone rang, I stopped to ask Jesus, “What are we going to do, here?” His answer was simple yet amazingly profound:
“Just put him in front of me at the cross.
The cross is that answer to everything.”
I’ve realized that unpacking that statement is going to take the rest of my life. The cross is the answer to every human suffering, every lie, every misbelief, every trouble of the human life and the source of our joy, celebration, victory, and resurrection with Christ Jesus. It is the dividing line between our mortal life and eternal joy.
As our phone call progressed, Jesus intersected this friend more and more until he was flooded by Jesus’ love. He was experiencing great pain in his life, but it all fell away into the arms of the our most holy and loving savior. The cross was truly his answer in the most amazing way.
Since then, the Lord has shown me a few small things about that experience that I’d like to pass on. I’ll add more as more is reveled…
1) When you don’t know what else to do or how to deal with your situation, move your thoughts into your heart, allow yourself to feel what’s happening in your life and then stand in front of him at the cross. Stand facing him with a thief on either side, and just ask him to show you what he wants you to see.
2) This can be particularly helpful for people who have trouble connecting emotionally. If so, just set aside some time each day to put yourself there and talk to him. Give him the space and time to respond. Let him move on your heart as only he can.
3) Shame has no place to hide when you’re in front of him there. The shame that is in you will be offended and surface. Give it to him - look into his eyes and hand it over. Let him take it from you. That’s why he’s hanging there in front of you to begin with!
4) Ponder these verses:
- “Father, please forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
- “There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
- To the woman in adultery - “Where are your accusers? Did none of them condemn you? Neither do I.” John 8:1-11
- “So if the son sets you free, you are free indeed.” John 8:36
5) As you stand in front of him, talk to him about these verses and what he wants you to understand about your shame, condemnation, separation, sin, loneliness, abuse. Whatever you can think of that hurts your heart. Build your relationship with him based upon truth and love. Really connect with his endless forgiveness and desire to have a personal and abiding relationship with you.
6) Jesus did not use it to solve all of his life issues. This was about building relationship. The point, here, was not to “fix” him, but to bring him relief and joy. Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength. This was about being connected to holiness and the relief that it brings (yeah, obvious John Eldredge reference, there).
Thank him for what he’s done and ask him for more. He wants so much more for you! When you don’t know where to turn, start with the answer to all things - the cross.
-Shawn