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The Toughest Question You’ll Ever Have to Answer

by | 78 comments

The Toughest Question You’ll Ever Have to Answer

Throughout the Bible, humans inundate God with questions.

Why? Why? Why?

How long?

How much longer?

Where have you gone?

Yet God also has tough questions of His own.

Who told you that you were naked?

Who do you say I am?

Who touched me?

Perhaps the toughest of all the questions God ever asks is…

Where are you?

It traces back to the garden and involves far more than any location, latitude, or longitude. This question leaves us naked and exposed.

Though subtle, this is a question that emerges in Luke 22-24. Today is Day 29 in the #LentChallenge, reading though the Gospels in preparation for Resurrection Sunday. To download a free copy of the reading plan, click here.

The Toughest Question You’ll Ever Have to Answer

The final chapters of Luke walk us down the painful road of preparing for the Passover, a betrayal with a smooch on the cheek, an illegal trial before a fox of a leader, the pulverization of Jesus’ flesh, followed by a heart throbbing resurrection and reappearance.

These core chapters tenderize our hearts for the coming of Easter. Yet as I read, the imagery of bread in Jesus’ calloused hands kept reappearing.

He takes the bread.

He blesses the bread.

He breaks the bread.

He gives the bread.

The Toughest Question You’ll Ever Have to Answer

Takes.

Blesses.

Breaks.

Gives.

These activities display the life of Christ.

Taken by God.

Blessed by God.

Broken by God.

Given by God.

Takes.

Blesses.

Breaks.

Gives.

The same verbs used when Jesus feeds the 5000.

The same active expressions during the Passover.

The same actions that follow the hike to Emmaus.

These verbs don’t just reveal the life of Christ, but the life of you and me.

Perhaps you’re in a place where you’re being taken to deeper places in your affection and adoration of God.

Perhaps you’re in seasons of being blessed by God in ways you’ve never imagined.

Perhaps you’re being broken, knowing that the pain and suffering you’ve experienced means life will never be the same.

Perhaps you’re in a time of giving of yourself—more than you ever calculated or thought possible.

The toughest question you’ll ever have to answer is of garden variety:

Where are you?

What do I most need to read but least want to hear?

IMOSTNEED

Where are you?

It’s no secret that I’ve been in a battle with cancer. If you’ve read Fight Back with Joy or gone through the 6-session Fight Back With Joy DVD Bible study (Lifeway), then you know my body is still recovering from being broken—literally.

Where am I?

Broken.

Still broken. Becoming stronger every day. Fighting back with joy every chance I get.

Finding delight in continuing to write, speak at events (maybe near you), and walk the #LentChallenge beside you.

But I am still broken.

Today, I ask for your continued prayers for healing—physically, spiritually, emotionally, on every level. That the One who died for us will bring healing and a long, long string of zeros.

Now I must ask you:

Where are you?

Taken by God? Blessed by God? Broken by God? Given by God? Or a blend of two or more?

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*Original Photo Source

78 Comments

  1. Songs of Joy
    Songs of Joy on March 23, 2015 at 5:03 am

    You are loved and you are prayed for today, sweet one!
    I have thought of this good word since Maine, it’s a beautiful word picture for me. Life is abundant once again with moments of brokenness and a season of giving of myself all mixed in. And all of that brings me into deeper affection for my loving savior…in ways I never experience before.
    Thank you for your challenging words and inspiring walk…Jesus is using you Margaret, Leif and Hershey! <3

  2. Char
    Char on March 23, 2015 at 10:40 am

    This spoke right to my heart. Thank you for speaking truth, encouragement , hope and rescue to a dark world. We love you and are praying for full restoration and recovery in your body. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

  3. Margaret
    Margaret on March 23, 2015 at 10:56 am

    Thank you, Char. Your prayers mean more than you know!

  4. Margaret
    Margaret on March 23, 2015 at 10:56 am

    Can’t wait to hug your neck in June, Tara. Grateful for you.

  5. Karen Radil
    Karen Radil on March 23, 2015 at 10:57 am

    May that we who are broken or are continually being broken realize the beauty in our brokeness, embrace the truth in Romans 8:28 that in God’s great big plan that He has prepared good works in advance for us to do, that He does make beauty from ashes, that He is wanting us to join Him in this incredible cycle of life in His plan of redemption! As you are in this Broken place Margaret, please know that you are Giving and I am grateful for that. May I always remember just how Blessed I am, and not get distracted in my Brokeness (we’re all broken people) & continue to press on to Go & Give.

  6. Monica Sharman
    Monica Sharman on March 23, 2015 at 11:20 am

    I thought I was already a subscriber. How did I miss this?! Subscribing again now . . .

  7. Deborah (Debbie)
    Deborah (Debbie) on March 23, 2015 at 11:50 am

    Margaret…once again a needed post. Thank you for your ministry even in the midst of your own battles…I pray 0 for you and yet I also pray a bazillion for you — a bazillion joys, a bazzillion fullness of wonder and delight in His presence and work in your life and a bazzillion fruits and blossoms from your yieldedness to Him in the midst of everything. Oh — and a bazillion glories to HIM through you. God bless you big!!!

  8. Margaret
    Margaret on March 23, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    Debbie, grateful. Keep those zeros and bazillions coming. Huge hug.

  9. Alee Behymer
    Alee Behymer on March 23, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    Margaret, I am in tears. Thank you so much for all that you share with us. I have come through a time of brokenness. I am now being taken and blessed simultaneously by God. And I have visions of the future as He prepares me to be given. Today’s writing is revealing something new for me. I have known that the Father is calling me to something larger than myself. I have understood that it is according to His will. However, I have not been aware that He will be giving to others through me and my experiences. I don’t know why this has never occurred to me before.

    Through your open honesty throughout your battle with cancer, I have prayed daily for you and Leif, even your father, and I have grown through your stories. So, while you have been broken, dear sister, you also have been given.

    Thank you, Margaret.

  10. Songs of Joy
    Songs of Joy on March 23, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    Well…I’m pleased to remind you we can hug in APRIL!! See you in Va friend! xoxo

  11. Melissa
    Melissa on March 24, 2015 at 7:47 am

    Thank you for sharing your heart with us, Margaret. I am in a season of “Why, why, why?” because of chronic sinus issues. The doctors just can’t figure out what to do with me. Your words speak to me and I appreciate you. I plan to see you in VA in April. 🙂 God Bless You. Hugs and red balloons!

  12. Melinda Lancaster
    Melinda Lancaster on March 24, 2015 at 9:40 am

    You have my continued prayers, Margaret for healing, strength, and a LONG line of zeros!

    I’ve gleaned so much during this challenge. Thank you for creating it.

    I am blessed and broken. Grateful for God’s sustaining grace.

  13. Margaret
    Margaret on March 24, 2015 at 10:12 am

    Melinda, grateful for your continued prayers. Huge hug, friend.

  14. Margaret
    Margaret on March 24, 2015 at 10:12 am

    Praying for ZEROs and deepest healing for you, Melissa.

  15. Margaret
    Margaret on March 24, 2015 at 10:13 am

    YES YES YES. CANNOT WAIT!

  16. Melissa
    Melissa on March 24, 2015 at 2:15 pm

    Thank you. I just finished “Fight Back With Joy”. Our group truly enjoyed the study and your wisdom. We are carpooling to see you in Fredericksburg. 🙂

  17. Julie - More Of Him
    Julie - More Of Him on March 24, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    Thank you, Margaret, for once again being such a balm and soothing my heart and spirit. I’ve been trying to recover from what should have been a simple surgery until the doctor cut my artery. 2014 was a year of surgeries and infections and, I too, am just trying to heal. Our bodies are battered, dear Margaret, but our Spirits are full! Your book has been such a blessing to me as I recover, as well as doing the Lent Challenge and your emails. I look so forward to seeing you posts on Instagram, too! The Lord is truly using you to bring us closer to Jesus and live more fully for Him! You’re in my prayers!!

    Blessings – Julie

  18. Suzanne Pavlick
    Suzanne Pavlick on March 24, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    JOHN 1 The WORD became flesh. The TRUE LIGHT that gives everyone LIGHT was coming into the world. John tells the Levites he is not the Messiah. John says he saw the spirit come down from heaven as a Dove. John’s disciples follow Jesus.
    JOHN 2 Jesus turns water into wine. In the temple courts Jesus found people selling cattle, sheep and exchanging money. Jesus turned the tables over he drove the animals out of the temple with a whip. Jesus was mad he said to stop turning his father’s house into a market. He said destroy the temple and raise it in 3 days.
    JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

  19. Denise Sale
    Denise Sale on March 25, 2015 at 9:45 am

    Thank you for your words I’ve just discovered your site and I am glad. I am broken with stage 4 cancer and I am praying for continued ZERO. I am learning so much through this season of life, boy its hard! But the blessings are numerous along with the challenges. I am praying for your recovery and many blessings.

  20. Margaret
    Margaret on March 25, 2015 at 11:44 am

    Praying for deepest healing and a whole slew of ZEROS for you, Denise.

  21. Margaret
    Margaret on March 25, 2015 at 11:44 am

    AMEN, Suzanne!!

  22. Margaret
    Margaret on March 25, 2015 at 11:45 am

    Julie, praying for a slew of ZEROS for you. HUGE hug, sweet friend.

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