Whip, whimper or wail

When there are overwhelming problems that face us in daily life sometimes we tend to ask ourselves what wrong have I done? Why is God treating me like this? I am whipped for no reason! Society is treating me as if I were someone to be shunned if not at least kept at a safe distance. Why should this happen to me?


There are times and moments when we take it in our stride and move on as if nothing has happened, having hardened our hearts and holding our heads high. But there are times when we whimper silently in the secret of our privacy which others have no access. In fact deep down in our hearts there is space which no one can enter without our letting them enter it. It is strictly private.

However there is another deeper level or core of myself which I myself do not really understand and understand only partially and am surprised to find depths which I never thought existed. This is the core which God enters and meets me to dialogue with me. He is as our Indian lore describes the ‘antarayami’, the indwelling Spirit who consoles us and strengthens our will. So I need not whimper or wail.

Nothing is in fact lost if you are in the hands of a loving and Provident God who will not abandon you.

The ‘antarayami’ will not at any time be away from us. We may find he is silent even as Jesus in the last days of his biological earthly life felt as if abandoned by all, even his beloved disciples one of whom betrayed him.

Mark speaking of his Garden of Gethsemane experience says: "He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake."

And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want."(Mark 14.33-36). On the cross it was even worse. His persecutors were all around him making fun of him and challenging him.

He felt as if the Father is silent and appeals to him in moving terms: "At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15. 34). If Jesus himself had to go through this kind of feeling why should we feel otherwise? But Jesus died full of Faith and hope saying in "a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last." 

Do not be afraid. Do not whimper, wail or say you are being whipped. Only say the Lord takes his time before answering with his loving advice.