By: Carole L. Haines

It has taken me a very long time to realize something. I am a Terrible Savior. Not one person that I have tried to save has been saved from whatever fate I thought I could protect them from. My Beloved Husband suffered a terrible job loss, and all I could do was stand by and support and encourage him.
But I couldn’t prevent it, it was out of my hands. And all I could do was pray for my kids as I watched them endure loss and grief. O how I longed to take it and carry it for them. I ached and prayed as I witnessed raw, deep, pain throbbing within my children’s breaking hearts
But again, I was powerless to spare them this agony, I was powerless to protect them.

When our kids are little and they fall; we can clean wounds, bandage cuts, and even lessen the pain and scars they may receive; but we can’t keep them safe from everything. The world eeks in sideways and we realize we can’t really protect them from much. We can be a safe place to run home to. We can be the hug they need, the listening ear, the sympathetic heart.
But we can’t be their healers, and we can never be their Savior. Only God can do that. Specifically, only Jesus can be the Savior. This realization came both as a shock and a relief all at the same time. I can point them to the Source of Healing water, but I cannot make them drink. Our True Savior Jesus is the only one who can save them.
Heck, I couldn’t even save myself from all the unexpected, sideways griefs that came my way unexpectedly. That is when I realized that we must be shown our weakness so that we will look always, only and fully to Jesus for our strength.

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)

Jesus is never a victim; He is always in control of His destiny. He chose to lay down His life for us. He is the only Savior. You and I could never be our own savior, or the savior of anyone else. We are terrible saviors, but we most certainly need one. We may be terrible saviors. But He is our Wonderful One.
And so if you do not know the love and mercy of our Savior Jesus, He invites you to come to Him, right here right now. There is no better day than today to receive Him as the Savior and Lord of your life. Come to Him, pray to Him and receive Him this Good Friday. It’s a decision that will change your life now and into all of eternity. Have a blessed and happy Easter weekend