
Psalm 31:9–16 Isaiah 50:4–9a Philippians 2:5–11 Mark 14:1–15:47 or Mark 15:1–39
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble…–Psalm 31:9
Ever since I was 5, I had a lot of trouble with my knees. Sometimes the pain was so bad I would wake up in the middle of the night and ask for medication. And as the years passed, the pain always remained the same.
By the time I was a senior in high school, I was desperate for relief. I had surgery on both of my knees, but the pain came back. I tried several different treatments, but none of them lasted.
My doctor said I needed a specific test. It would take a year just to get the test, which was very costly. It might reveal I needed to have to have major reconstruction on both legs, which would require an extensive recovery. I would need assistance with doing daily activities.
But God was with me. When the test came back positive, it was both scary and a relief. When my surgery came, I was full of fear—and hope. I knew there was a light at the tunnel that had wound on for so many years.
I still have some pain today, but my functionality is so much better now. Looking back at it, God was with me during this entire time—the pain of my knees, the fear of the test, the timing of the surgery. Just like in Lent, it is important to be patient and let Him guide the way.
But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. –Psalm 31:14
–Jocelyn Tichenor