Leo came into our booth, eyes downcast, clothes disheveled, tangibly oppressed. He was elderly, much older than the average person who typically came. He knew what he wanted: a prophetic word and a healing. Michele and I then began to pray and ask God to show us what He would have us say.
Ministering Hope
We both received similar words: that Leo had been through some tough things in life, and that God was about to bring him into a sweet season of restoration and rebirth. I drew a picture of a baby bird in a nest, beak open and raised, representing how God was going to bring the nurture and care into his life he had always yearned for. We told him he could hope again.
Leo immediately burst into tears, his grieving heart pouring out to us. Twenty years ago he had been watching “Miracle on 34th St” when, a long-shuttered memory from childhood came crashing back. He had been forced to watch as his father tortured animals, and was ridiculed for not participating. He had carried deep, relentless guilt and shame ever since. Not because he had in any way been responsible, but because that’s the kind of burden kids take on when confronted with cruelty and trauma.
Releasing the Burden to Jesus
Our hearts went out to him; although the wound was decades old, we knew that Jesus lives outside of time and could minister His love and hope to Leo. He agreed to let Jesus minister to his heart. As Jesus drew near and began to touch Leo with His tenderness and mercy, the agonizing guilt and the aching shame began to wash away and free him from years of life in the shadowlands. The burden, never meant to be carried by man, went to where it belonged: the Cross.
Our King-Priest Understands
Leo met Jesus, the Jesus who walked the earth as we do, and understands everything we have ever gone through. Everything, without exception.
“For we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose into the heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty. He understands humanity, for as a man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness”. Heb 4:14-6 The Passion
We all get a New Heart!
Like Leo, we all can carry burdens that are not ours, and often don’t recognize it’s there. But Jesus is always willing and ready to come and make the exchange only He can do: our ashes for His beauty, our mourning for His joy. “I will plant a new heart and new spirit inside of you. I will take out your stubborn, stony heart and give you a willing, tender heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit inside of you and inspire you to live by My statutes and follow My laws”. Ezek 36:26-7 The Voice.
I pray we all learn to come quickly and boldly before His throne of grace, knowing that mercy waits there to kiss us and restore us to fullness of life. He wants it for you more than you want it for yourself!
With much love,
Susan
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