FJWL_01:155
         I understand the trying of men's hearts, the depths of despair, of discouragement, and of desperation. I understand the depth of forsaking, for first I had to forsake My Father to go to Earth, and then I had to forsake those that I loved so dearly to return to My Father.
         I understand the depth of pain and affliction, for I screamed out in pain as the nails pierced My hands and My feet. I understand the feeling of being forsaken by those that loved Me, even My Own Father, and thus I cried out, "My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
         I understand the depth of fear--fear of facing that which is ahead for the pain and the sorrow that it shall bring. And so I said, "Father, let this cup pass from Me!"
         I understand the depth of the feeling of loss, for those who loved Me most forsook Me as I was carried away into captivity. I know the depth of hurt to see one that you love betray you, even as Judas betrayed Me with a kiss.
         Am I not a High Priest that is touched with the feeling of your infirmity? Do you think that I do not understand these things, and that I do not have great compassion upon you? My heart breaks to see you in your pain and in your struggle, and in the fire of testing, of trying, of purging--when you feel so hopeless, so lost, so forsaken, when you grasp with all your might and yet you feel as if there is nothing to grasp any more.
         Though My Father did not let this cup pass from Me, and though I saw My loved ones flee from My side in time of trouble and this one that I loved betray Me, and though the nails pierced My hands and pierced My feet, and though I was beaten with many stripes, and though I felt as if My Father had forsaken Me, and though I had to pass through the deepest of Jordans--the Jordan of death--yet it all brought about such great victory, such great renewal, such great salvation!
         For though it looked like a defeat for Me to be whipped and to be scourged, to be crowned with thorns, to be nailed to the cross, and even as I cried out, "My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" yet My Father kept Me and brought Me forth in a great resurrection that changed the course of history and that changed all eternity!
         Though all looks dark and you cannot see, know that I have My arms around you. I ask you to trust Me in the depths, trust Me in the despair, trust Me in your heartache, trust Me in your forsaking. For I do all things well, and I shape you and I mold you with My love. And if you are willing to drink of this cup, if you are willing to say, "Not my will, but Thine be done," you, too, shall have a glorious resurrection that will far surpass anything that you have known!
         So come into My arms, My dear one, for great is My love for you, and great is My love for all of you who pass through the Jordan (ML #2987).



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