Palliate

Wednesday, I had two ideas bouncing around the back of my head, for Friday and Saturday's post. I couldn't decide what day they might be best suited, as they could have gone either way. Yesterday, I lost them both. I prayed God would bring them to my remembrance... I think Saturday's concept came back, but what to do for what you are reading now?

Then last night, when I finally got home, at one point someone posted a previous "word of the day" on social media. And by previous, it was a day from last April!

Palliate: to relieve or lessen without curing.

While we know and understand there are many situations and circumstances for which there are no "cures" and our best efforts to little to relieve or lessen the agony, pain, sadness or frustration of life, my first thought was God's passion for our souls.

Even our faith at times can't comprehend the how and why of God's working in our lives. But in light of the eternal path of our soul, how wonderful is it that God does not attempt to relieve our sinful state without a "cure".

He didn't put forth a best effort, "that's as good as it's going to be; I did what I could; You can't tell from a distance" when He confronted the sinful state of man.

He provided an answer. A solution. A spiritual "cure".
When it came down to His love for us, He did not palliate a viable option to help our suffering.
He sent His Son.

On this #missionsFriday, there is no relief for the sins of our soul but through the "cure" of the cross of Christ. It this day and age where every message is louder than this, in the end of eternity, none matters more.

Pray, this #missionsFriday, that even as missionaries face difficulties in their own loves and they struggle to help others in their time of difficulty, may the message of the cross rise above. May the power of God transcend our present, yet temporal pain and frustration; that whether we recognize for the first time or remember once again... just how miraculous is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For missionaries that are tired and weary, may God renew their hearts, minds and spirits; empowering them from heaven. While their "best efforts" may not be enough, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the love and grace of God is indeed, more than enough. In fact, is exactly, what is needed.

Regardless of who we are;
Where we find ourselves
And the state in which we exist.
Jesus Christ is the only true relief.
By the grace of God, may many experience the power of salvation
Even to those at the ends of the earth, perhaps at the end of their rope.
For where sin created a problem,
God made a promise.

- PNC

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