When God gives you Unexpected Lenten Crosses
What do these words mean-unexpected Lenten crosses? Why would God do that? Hidden lessons to discover?
The beauty of Lent-inward spiritual reflection of our walk with Christ. Or no walk with him. The season brings personal revelations clear as day. It may take the 40-days, but in the end, the response or conversion is up to us.
Any of these challenges occurred during a Lenten Season in your lifetime? Unexpectedly? What was your response or outcome? How well did you receive it?
1. Physical Injury-broken bone. Sprained muscle. Torn tendon. Chronic Pain. Various ailments, etc.
Response: Unwelcomed timing. An annoyance. Suffering. Impatience. Persecution. Difficult to endure.
2. Mental/Emotional Conditions/Complaints-unable to cope. Crippling. Chronic fatigue, etc.
Response: Crying. Anger. Out bursts. Temporary or extended conditions. Doubts. Procrastination. High Tensions, etc.
3. Unexpected Forced Burdens-being a Caregiver for a relative. Preparing someone’s financial assets. Additional projects at work. Extra Errands.
Response: Stress. Impatient. Disagreements. Disapproval. Frustration.
Sound familiar?
The Plus Side
Yes. There’s a plus side to those startling crosses God gives us:
1. Opportunities to ask Jesus for help.
2. Build and grow a trusting relationship in God’s bigger design for us.
3. An open door to develop patience, a surrendered suffering, conversion, and compassion for others carrying similar crosses.
4. Be assured God always bring out the good.
5. Believe and feel confident in God’s graces during our fallen and broken moments.
6. Ask, pray, and beg Jesus. What is his message? What is he trying to teach us? Pause and think…meeting Jesus Christ during our Lenten journey coupled with an unexpected cross…wow. What a privilege.
Think about this: Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry a heavy, wooden cross behind Jesus. The cross filled with all our sins, immoralities, darkness, idolatries and more. Foreseen? Or really unexpected for Simon?
*The Plus Side: Conversion to Christianity. Discipleship. Example for us-take up our cross. Follower of Christ.
What would you do if you were forced to carry someone else’s burden? Any conversions? Compassion? Or would you refuse?
Even as children of God, he sees how we’ve fallen, is sadden by our broken spirit, and disappointed of the level of sin we are drowning in.
Yet, he loves us no matter what. Lent is an opportunity to return to God. Return to our Father. To come home in heart and soul. He wants us to persevere in confidence of His graces and depend on him every moment.
St. Phillip Neri: “never try to evade the crosses God’s sends you for you will find a heavier one”
So true. Be receptive of that unexpected Lenten cross God brings your way. Whether this season or anytime of the year.
Listen.
God is trying to tell you, me, all of us, something.