My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me,from the words of my groaning? Oh my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Psalm 22:1-2

These words of the psalmist seem to be mine frequently and these words even were Jesus'. If I feel so bad, how can this day be “good”?

This poem/prayer by Macrina Wiederkehr in “Seasons of Your Heart” seems to express my feelings.

Prayer for a Tired Branch                        
Jesus
I am one worn-out
tired branch
and I need the newness
of the vine of you
to start the hope-life
running through
the streams of me again.
Lord, be my vine
and I’ll be your branch
but free me please
from this withered
cut-off feeling
and deliver others
from the pain
I carve into their branches.

We recall Jesus’ words in John 15:5: “I am the vine, you are the branches.” Even though there are times when we feel cut off and alone, we can follow Jesus into the dark and come up into the light. May we not seek to skip the dark times, but remember that no matter what, we are grafted onto Jesus’ vine and the good news of new life.

We are blessed to be a blessing,

Vikki