Easter's Healing

You Are Not Alone

4/1/2026

On a bright, sunny day, I sat outside the cafe. I had been venting. And looking for answers. Why couldn’t I sing the songs? Why couldn’t I read the devo book? I held onto Truth with a white-knuckle grip and kept the Psalms on my heart. Even so, I had lost my song. The praise that bubbled up from the inside, the melodies that snuck out through the days, the anthems of faith declared in community. The song was gone. Music became noise that hurt my ears . . . and my soul. The devo book? It was too close. The wounds too fresh. The truth too soon. Yet my soul cried out for more. I longed for freedom, for the closeness of Jesus.

Whether it’s the storms of war, tragedy, illness, or hurts, life can be painful and so very heavy. Even daily stress can knock our feet out from under us and leave us wondering, “what just happened?”

In those moments, you have two choices: Push away from God, or Lean into His loving arms.

Pushing away is easier - The fight response throws anger in His face and says, “I’m done.” Walking away from church and conversations about the Lord, the anger turns into a deep-seated bitterness that results in a hard heart. The flight response looks for the closest escape. Avoiding Bible reading or prayer, the fear results in a blind spot of jadedness and disillusionment.

Yet there’s another way. Freeze. (Let’s reinterpret this with a new meaning.) In your numbness and shock, stay next to Jesus. Allow His love to protect you and provide for you. Bring your pain to the Lord - venting, processing, praying, feeling. Then listen and know His Presence and care.

Jesus suffered through the storm of the crucifixion, so that you wouldn’t have to suffer the storm alone. He stayed in the pain, so you wouldn’t have to.

“Yet it was our pain he carried, our sufferings he endured. … He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Isaiah 53:5 TPT

That bright sunny day with my friend didn’t suddenly fix everything. My song remained missing for a long time. I tried several times to read that devo book. The pain and the storm did finally pass. The priceless treasure through it all was His nearness and His love. His Presence was closest in the darkest moments. He held me when I leaned into Him.

In your pain … or maybe a friend’s pain … freeze. Don’t leave Jesus' side. Stay close to Him. Let His love wash over you and heal you.

Living Devoted,