To the weary, the doubting, the unseen
Nancy Kennedy
Recently, someone posted this on social media:
To all who are weary, Christ says, “Come and I will give you rest.”
To those who are thirsty, Christ says, “Come and drink the living water.”
To those who are hungry, Christ says, “Come buy bread without cost.”
To those who are longing, Christ says, “Come and see what I have done.”
To those who are doubting, Christ says, “Come and touch my wounds.”
To those who are hopeless, Christ says, “Come and be made new.”
Those words stirred something in me, and I found myself going back to the red-letter words of Jesus — his real, spoken promises — to see what else he says to people like us. Here’s what I found:
A man with leprosy came to Jesus saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus touched him and said, “I am willing. Be clean.”
Another man asked Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant, and Jesus said, “I will go and heal him.” Then, in a crowd, a woman reached out to touch the hem of his garment, hoping to be healed. Jesus said to her, “Take heart, daughter. Your faith has healed you.”
So often I doubt God’s willingness, but again and again, Christ assures his people: “Let not your heart be troubled. I am willing.”
To his terrified disciples, when they thought he was a ghost walking on water, Jesus said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
In fearful and uncertain times, Christ still says, “It is I. The Maker of heaven and earth, the One who controls the wind and the waves — it is I who holds your eternity.” Even in the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear, for he is with us.
That is my greatest comfort whenever I am afraid. “Don’t be afraid. It is I,” Christ says.
The disciples once asked Jesus, “What is the work God requires of us?”
To those who strive to earn God’s favor, Christ says, “The work God requires is this: to believe in the One he has sent.”
Christ also says, “Whoever believes in me… has eternal life and will not be condemned. Whoever believes in me… streams of living water will flow from within… will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
That’s all that’s required—hear him, believe him, follow him.
Jesus says his sheep hear his voice, and he knows them. To those who long to be known, fully and without condemnation, Christ says, “I know you, and I love you.”
To the insecure, Christ says, “No one can snatch any of my sheep from my hands.” His words bring assurance that we are securely held and eternally safe.
On the day of his resurrection, as Mary Magdalene wept at the empty tomb, Jesus appeared and asked, “Why are you weeping?” And then he said her name: “Mary.”
I love the compassion in his voice—and how, in a culture that devalued women, he spoke her name with tenderness.
To those who feel unseen, especially in their grief, Christ says your name in a way that reaches the depth of your hurting heart.
So, to all who have ears to hear, Christ says, “Take heart. I am willing. I know you. Don’t be afraid. It is I. Come and see what I have done. Come and be made new.”
Contact Nancy Kennedy at 352-564-2927 (leave a message) or email at nkennedy@chronicleonline.com.
