Victim to Victor

Today I was reading the verses about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:40 : Matt 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42) and I began to contemplate how he must have felt as he faced the ordeal of the cross that was to come. I wondered if he was so distraught because he knew for the first time in his existence, he would be alone - set apart from his earthy friends and family, separated from his Father. This got me to thinking about the times that I have felt alone. Most of these times have been when I have been a victim to someone else's ungodly will. Now, I do not in any way believe Jesus was a victim. I know that he chose his path and could have changed his mind at any time. I guess I am just trying to say that I know that Jesus can relate to how it feels to be utterly alone and subject to peoples' ungodly desires. It lead me to write the following poems (or lines, not sure they are poems). The first is how I felt as a victim and the second is how I felt, and still feel, as a victor in Christ.

"Victim"

Silent screams

Begging heart

Longing for mercy

Needing rescue

Desperate

Trapped

Terror

Pleading

Humiliation

Deep Sorrow

Released at last

Overwhelming relief

Will know better next time

New strategies imagined

Escape routes planned

Be Still - Be small

Shhhh....

"Victor"

Out of the deep darkness comes a great Light extending His hand to me.

Lifting me higher and higher until the things of my past are just

A shadow in time

A sliver of darkness

A vapor of remembrance

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth."

(Psalm 121:1-2)

I will not look back for my heart is in the hands of the Keeper of Hearts.

Precious, gentle, tender care and restoration belong to Him.

I have found my resting place, my safe refuge.

I will not be moved.