“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” — “My God, my God, why have You abandoned Me?” Mark 15:34
One of the last phrases Jesus spoke from the Cross. One of the things I’m meditating on during Lent, that I’d like to invite you to do as well.
There are things in this world that are out of our control.
Things that seem to come out of nowhere. Things that turn our lives upside down. Things that frighten us. Worry us. Keep us up in the middle of the night.
That lack of control is something that unites all of us. Something that all the money in the world can’t change. That can bring any person to their knees in despair.
Reading Jesus’ words on the Cross, in addition to feeling His anguish as He’s dying wash over you, I’m sure it also calls to mind a very vivid, very specific moment in time in your own life, perhaps distant, perhaps present, when you’ve felt a similar way. And that catch-your-breath feeling can come roaring back like it was only yesterday.
One thing that I’ve been trying to do recently, to kind of reawaken my prayer life, is to turn on Christian music, and listen to the lyrics. As sometimes, I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to surrender my heart in prayer. Because, let’s be honest – that involves actually feeling my emotions, and recalling things I should be sorry for.
So, music helps me feel that connection with Jesus in a tangible way that I can focus on.
Well today, I went to prayer for a very specific matter. And I decided that I wanted to focus on that utterance from Jesus on the Cross. “My God, why have You abandoned Me?” And the first song that came on made my eyes swell up with tears, and it was exactly the thing that I needed to hear. And I guess, I thought that perhaps, someone else might need to hear it too.
I’ll link the song here. And write the lyrics that really spoke to me below.
It’s called I Will Carry You, by Ellie Holcomb
I know you’re tired, I see it in your eyes
All that anxiety that rules your mind
I’ll be your shield when you don’t feel like
You’ve got strength enough to fight
I’ll stand by your side
I will carry you
Through your darkest night
When you’re terrified
I will carry you
When the waters rise
When your hope runs dry
I will carry you.
I can’t speak to everyone’s “breaking point moment,” but I do know from my own life, looking back at that season, I know full well from hindsight, that Jesus carrying me through it was the only way I did get through it.
There’s a common “Christian” clichè that goes, “God will not give you more than you can handle.” And I know, whenever that was said to me, it pissed me off. It made me so angry, thinking: How trivializing to what I’m going through. Especially when it feels like breathing is all you can do to stop the suffocating fear or suffering you’re enduring.
But I think that statement needs to be amended. God will not give you more than He can’t carry you through.
Doesn’t really roll off the tongue quite as well, but by George, we were not meant to suffer alone. That’s something this Lent, that I’m trying to really give significance to: and that’s the prolonged suffering of Jesus. And the why, behind it all.
Suffering, out of immeasurable love for me.
Suffering, to redeem us of our sins, so that we don’t have to.
Suffering, so that when we, also, go through suffering, we can align it with His, and know that He endured it first, and we are not alone.
There is nothing I can say, when the waters are raging and the waves are crashing in over the sides of the boat on all sides, to lessen that pain and that fear. I’m not going to pretend that there’s nothing to be afraid of, or diminish the distraught state of your heart. But what I can say, is that Jesus is with you in the boat.
He’s enduring it with you. You may not be able to see it right now, amongst all the waves and turmoil. Even Jesus on the cross, had that moment of anguish, feeling abandoned by God. But He’s keeping your boat afloat in ways we cannot understand or comprehend.
That’s what was on my heart to share tonight.
So, yes, a shorter post tonight. But I invite you to just listen to the song, close your eyes, and feel His strong and comforting Hand on your shoulder, beside you today, and always.
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71 responses to ““Eloi Eloi, lema sabachthani””
Truth
Thank you Daisy, I appreciate that. Hugs and love xox
[…] “Eloi Eloi, lema sabachthani” […]
Thank you friend for the link up. Hugs and love xox
For a second there I thought you were gonna link “Good Friday” by Josh Garrels. That song is super powerful.
I’ve never heard it!! I’ll have to check it out. Thanks Eden!! Hugs and love xox
A beautiful post I like it thank you so much
Thank you friend. Hugs and love xox
Pray for Ukraine.
Yes. Lots and lots of prayer. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs and love xox
Amen, Caralyn! How true! How comforting to know God is always there with us, no matter what. You’re right, the old cliché isn’t correct. Most of the things we encounter here are more than we can handle, otherwise why would we need Him? But nothing He allows us to go through is beyond His power or control.
I’ve been thinking and praying a lot this week for Leah Darrow, Rick, and their family, and the pain they’re going through. Even though we have absolute hope in a future reunion, the current pain is still there, and little can be said to help it. But thanks be to our wonderful Savior who knows everything we’re going through and totally understands, even more than we do. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Jesus 🤗🙏
Hi Kenneth! Thank you so much – oh friend, I am right there with you. I have been keeping them close in prayer. Gosh so sad. My heart is breaking for them. Amen to that – He will carry us. so glad you stopped by. Hugs and love xox
Cliche? What about 1 Corinthians 10:13?
That is where the cliché comes from. People misquote the verse. It says, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. It does not say that God will not give you anything above what you can handle, but will not allow you to be TEMPTED beyond what you are able, AND will provide a way of escape as well. God wants us to trust Him to work through us, therefore He allows us to encounter trials that are beyond what we can handle so we’ll turn to Him. Trials and temptations are two different things. 🙂
Interesting verse 9 through 12 create context for the use of the scripture – we often look at the verse without the context when using this, but the conversation begins in verse 6 Now these things became examples for us, in order for us not to desire injurious things, as they desired them.
Verse 12 concludes with a summation “So let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.”
So what was the “escape” for the nation of Israel at that time. 23,000 lost their lives? The admonition is never put God to the test. Sadly we all put God to the test but the way out is Jesus sacrifice the value of his life for us this ensures we have a future if we live in harmony with the instructions found in the Bible.
These are not cliché’s but a formula as Paul goes on to discuss how we take that sacrifice in vain and render it invalid in our lives. The escape can be immediate but the real escape is eternal. One of my favourite scriptural points for discussion
Thank you for your enlightened comment
Thank you Kenneth for clarifying that! Amen to that – it is the temptation that we can overcome! And a way to escape. Thats such a powerful point you make: trials definitely allow us to turn to Him and depend on Him. Thank you for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
Great point! thanks friend. Hugs and love xox
Unfortunately, many verses have been made into cliches, and although true, they become mantras with little spiritual impact on our life.
As mentioned above, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says:
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (NIV)
Providing a way out includes Him carrying us out.
Hi Myron! You’re right about that. Amen – providing a way out certainly includes Him carrying us out! I love that point of truth! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
Couldn’t agree more, suffering is so hard but I couldn’t imagine not having Jesus to hold me up and renew my spirit through all the storms.
Thank you so much friend. Amen to that – He is always there to hold us up! Hugs and love xox
My message is a sorrowful one I am afraid.
My God, my God, why have You abandoned Me? Is such a sad statement to have in the bible and a true reflection of the grief and sadness of the situation unfolding on the cross in real-time for Jesus.
Many believe that what happens is all part of god’s plan and choice, and that our souls are heading towards his destination of choice, the good the bad and the ugly.
I hope and pray this is true but I am not sure I have the conviction of faith to believe it to be so all the time. When you witness or experience bad things happening to yourself or good people that you love, it scares your soul and the closer to home that it happens the deeper the scar cuts.
I believe God is all powerful and has unconditional love, “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man”. I try my best to work in service of god throughout my life living as a good person, but know I am just one man and in all honesty though my actions attempt to do right by God, and sometimes I fail but not all times. But my ability to have faith in his plan is my real weakness. I get paranoid and fear that evil could theoretically overcome humans on this planet and for that I try to speak out against evil and wrong doing even more.
God will be alright whatever happens and will be happy and content with his plan no matter how it unfolds for me and my loved ones. I just hope he does not forsake me and those people and places I love as bad things continue to happen to good people across the globe.
To speak truth to power is a gift and curse that I have and at difficult times like that we are living through now it is one of the things that I aspire to continue to do.
Thank you Huw for sharing your thoughts on this. You bring up some powerful food for thought. One thing that gives me peace is that God sees the heart. Hugs and love xox
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thank you for the link up! Hugs and love xox
What a beautiful post dear Caralyn! I loved your thoughts on God won’t give us more than he can carry us through. I completely understand! Jesus will never forsake us. What a beautiful example he is for us when he walked as MAN and God. Where would we be without the power and love of Christ?
Thank you so much KL! Amen to that – He will never ever ever forsake us. Amen to that – especially this season before Easter, we’re reminded of just how far He went as a MAN to rescue us!! Amen! Hugs and love xox
You’re so welcome! Hugs and love right back! 🤍💚🤗
I’ve always thought the saying “God won’t give you more than you can handle” comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13- “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” So that’s exactly what it should mean when people say it, that God will give us the strength to endure the difficult seasons and situations of our life!
Thank you Heather for sharing that! So true! He is our source of strength and courage and endurance! I love that thought! Hugs and love xox
Yes, He will carry us through. Thank God for that reassurance, huh? I am so troubled, though, by the senseless killing in Ukraine. Jesus, carry those people through this devastation!!
Amen! Praise God for that reassurance indeed. Oh, me too my friend. I am so saddened too. Lots of prayer for those people! Hugs and love xox
Such a beautiful post and a lovely song. Thank you Carolyn.
Thank you so much friend. I appreciate that. Yes – the song is really beautiful. Hugs and love xox
Very beautiful post!
I was wondering if you listen to a Christian radio station, and if so what’s the name of it?
Thank you so much! I just listen to “Contemporary Christian” on Spoitify or Pandora! Hugs and love xox
That’s awesome. Maybe you should consider listening to a Christian radio station like K-LOVE or WayFM.
Oh! I listened to K-Love when I lived in ohio and had an actual radio in my car! Hugs and love xox
That’s awesome! Well if you ever want to listen to K-love, you can either download
Sorry. Download the K-love app or the iHeartRadio app and search for K-love. Hope this helps .
very encouraging, and thank you
thank you Fenny, I appreciate you taking the time to read! Hugs and love xox
Ah dear lady, the things that He is there for. Guiding a heart, a step or in our silence is something we rarely feel in absence because it is always there. It hasn’t ever not been. One day we go beyond our doubts and suddenly there truly is music for the soul 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
Thank you so much Mark. You’re right – It hasn’t ever not been! I love that. Hugs and love xox
Even Yeshua had someone carry His Cross, as He couldn’t, on His way to do the most powerful act ever. But, friend, read Psalm 119 from verse 65 through 73. And be sure to make a study of Job’s second season of disaster. Most people know of the opening scene but never see the actual play. This also is my life story, as I told you from Cape Town in a 2016 email. Yes, I am that guy, living locked into just twenty square metres, disabled after twelve strokes.
you’re right about that. That is a powerful aspect of His story. And thank you for sharing that about your own life. I am incredibly moved. Hugs and love xox
A post that gets us all thinking. Do we ever reach a point where God abandons us Hebrews 13: 5 second part of the verse reminds us “For he has said: “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.”
Was Jesus abandoned. No not in that moment or at any time – remember this statement fulfilled Psalm 22: 1. Jesus knew he had to die, he had explained this to the Apostles and Disciples.
Would others think he had been abandoned by God? Was this a moment of Human weakness? The answer to the last point is no Jesus remained faithful to death, he acknowledged that God’s protection had been removed and his will would be accomplished so that we can be saved.
Jesus was never abandoned because he was raised from the dead, he spoke of that as well. So in mediating on these words at this time, we reflect that when we are at our most emotional, when we feel we can no longer go forward Hebrews 13: 5 assures us that because Jesus died in this way we will never be abandoned by his father and our God.
Enjoyed reading the post as ever.
There came a time when I felt abandoned, when our cell group left for two months so that they could let Jesus enjoy Christmas on a sunny beach. Me and my family were left behind destitute, and forlorn, with the austerity of disability to celebrate. I am not suicidal, but I could see why Christmas is suicide season. As so many lonesome folks feel left behind.
I will never leave or abandon you. — What a powerful powerful thing to remember. THank you so much for this insightful response. I am moved by this beautiful food for thought. Thanks for sharing your heart. Hugs and love xox
Thanks Carolyn. Beautiful song and I love your rephrase of a cliche. Yes He must carry us through or we’re never going to make it alone. Notice also when Jesus cried out He switched languages and choose His mother tongue to cry from the depths to the Father. God always knows the language of our hearts.
Thank you so much Pete! Yes – i love how beautiful that song is! It moves the soul indeed. Amen to that – He knows the language of our hearts! Hugs and love xox
Very well said.
Most people don’t realize that Jesus was reciting the 22nd Psalm (mostly to himself). The opening words and the closing words are now considered his two separate “last words” on the cross, but what we have been told is his saying “It is finished” was actually “he hath done this”.
Oh how interesting! Thank you for sharing this insight! i appreciate it. Everything is always on purpose! Hugs and love xox
Beautiful!!
Thank you so much Amy!! Hope you’re having a great day! Hugs and love xox
Great column!
For further reading during Lent, may I suggest Seven Last Words by Timothy Radcliffe, OP., particularly Chapter 4, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me. Published (in Canada) by Novalis, elsewhere by Burns & Oates (Continuum imprint)
Thank you so much! I will definitely check out that book, sounds incredibly powerful! Hugs and love xox
This is so insightful, Caralyn! Just last week I was studying 1 Peter 3. A commentary on v. 18 said, “If Christ could not be freed from sufferings, why should Christians think to be so?”
Thank you so much Jan. Oh wow, what a powerful powerful reminder. So true! Hugs and love xox
Bless you for sharing this
thank you friend. i appreciate your support! Hugs and love xox
Superb edit! “But I think that statement needs to be amended. God will not give you more than He can’t carry you through. ”
…if we would just turn to him and remained with our hearts and eyed focused upon Him.”
Easier said than done- when we are in excruciating pain.
It’s not something we are born doing. It is something we learn to do.
Amen.
Thank you so much Ben! Amen to that – it is much much easier said than done. And you’re right, it is a learned behavior. Hugs and love xox
remain not remained.
Thank you! I needed that. I guess we all do, when the world feels like it’s out of control. There’s a time and a season for the appointed time and God’s time may not be now, but if it is, it will come when it’s His will for it. In the meantime, we need to just Let God carry that load and do our best to help others with theirs if and when needed as your post did for me. Blessings.
Music helps me too!!
This song is on my favorite playlist. It is beautiful.
thank you so much Linda for stopping by! YES! it is such a beautiful song! I love it too! Hugs and love xox
Great post.
thank you friend. Hugs and love xox