Reflection: I am with you

Like Jeremiah, we’re all disabled. Some of us are paralysed by failure, sadness, depression, or inadequacy. But you must have noticed God’s solution. He didn’t tell Jeremiah,

“Stop putting yourself down; you’re such a beautiful butterfly.” Or, “Jeremiah, you really are so eloquent.” Nor is it a matter of, “Get your act together!”

God’s way of equipping us—of encouraging we who are fearful, confused, or disappointed with ourselves, is to say, “I am with you!”

“I sculpted; I designed you.

I will help you.

I am your redeemer.

I plunged into the foggy darkness…where all creation is groaning.

I am Christ-crucified and revived.

I’ve given you my Spirit.

So, go. Take up your cross…take up your life…and follow me.

I’ll journey with you until the fog lifts.”

Prayer:

Until the fog forever lifts, Lord, help me daily to claim your promise and your power:

“…Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. …Christ with me!” (Abbreviated Breastplate of St Patrick).