Daily Delight

If you have ever lost someone or experienced a difficulty that left you emotionally vulnerable and confused, you can certainly understand a sense of the mix of emotions that Mary Magdalene experienced after Jesus' crucifixion.

In John 20, we find her on the outside of Jesus' tomb weeping. While grieving, two angels appeared and asked her: “'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him'” (John 20:13, ESV). Another stranger appeared and asked her the reason for her tears. Thinking it was a gardener, Mary responded, not recognizing that it was actually Jesus before her. It was only when He called her name that she identified her risen Savior!

I've come to appreciate that Jesus has a way of appearing at the strangest of times, in the strangest of places and in the strangest of ways, offering us a unique encounter that can turn our tears into powerful testimonies. But many times, like Mary, we do not always recognize Him because we are overwhelmed by our grief, sadness, or frustration. Other times, we fail to recognize Him because we are looking in the wrong direction, completely focused on what is not going well.

Even then, Jesus calls us to be honest with our emotions, just as He asked Mary to be honest with hers when He asked her the reason for her tears. Christ calls us to honest reflection. It is only until we choose to become emotionally honest with Him and ourselves that He can complete His transformational work within our hearts.

And many times, despite the honesty, depending on the intensity of the pain, we become stuck in our feelings. Thankfully, in love, Jesus gently relates to us as He related to Mary. He authoritatively speaks to our hearts in a language it can understand. And when He does, and we recognize the One who goes before us, may we, like Mary, respond with untamed worship.

About the Author

Dentrecia Blanchette

Dentrecia is a creative nurturer from the island of St. Kitts who is learning, growing and evolving with Christ, grace and a smile. She is the Founder of Sugar For Your Heart (@sugarforyourheart) – a ministry that’s focused on creating quiet and safe spaces where individuals can explore and better understand and appreciate emotional and spiritual wellness.

Dentrecia is also a counselling psychology graduate student at California Southern University. She is committed to dispelling the myths and stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment, particularly in the Caribbean and Christian community.