Truth & Encouragement

Following Easter, I wanted to share a quote I found recently that spoke to me.

To be honest with you, it has been hard to try to write something “encouraging” or “inspiring”. I have come out of a difficult season this year. I struggled to pray, and when I did pray, I felt silence and loneliness. I sat and read devotions and verses without really 

Naomi White

seeing the words. I shared encouraging truths with others, but struggled to feel the encouragement they usually provided. I am not alone in this type of season. And I have been surrounded by love. But the feeling remained: a not enough-ness, a something missing, an aching hollow-ness.

It is in this season that I stumbled across this quote from St. Augustine of Hippo from an Advent sermon.

Man’s maker became Man that He, Ruler of the stars, 
    might nurse at His mother’s breast;
that He, the Bread, might hunger;
the Fountain thirst;
the Light sleep;
the Way be wearied by the journey;
the Truth, might be accused by false witnesses;
the Judge of the living and the dead, 
   might be brought to trial by a mortal judge;
that He, Justice, might be condemned by the unjust;
that He, Discipline, might be scourged with whips;
that He, the Foundation, might be suspended upon a cross;
that Strength might be weakened;
that Healer might be wounded;
that Life might die.

It is an incredible thought that the very source of Light would experience darkness. That the very source of food and water would experience the pain of hunger and the dry ache of thirst. That the very source of healing and life would experience such pain and weakness and loss. In his last moments, Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” God himself experienced the lack of Himself, the silence and distance, and loneliness.

When I cry out in pain or loneliness or want, my High Priest can call to mind the exact feeling. He himself has wounds that are not healed.

He chose this willingly, for my sake. He claimed victory over it all on my behalf.

He is the High Priest who intercedes for me. He is the Holy Spirit who prays for me. He is the Creator who provides for me. He is compassionate and merciful. This is the truth and encouragement I can cling to. 

​In His name, Naomi