Meditations on Healthy Living

John 11:35 JESUS wept.  [King James Translation]
 
Summary

This scripture is famous for being the shortest verse in the King James Bible and many other translations. This scripture occurs in the narrative that describes the death and later resurrection of Lazarus.  John describes the sequence of events as follows:  JESUS receives a message from Mary and Martha that their brother, Lazarus, is sick.  The writer John describes Mary as the same woman who poured perfume on the LORD and wiped his feet with her hair. See, John 11:2. [However, because the woman described in Luke 7:37, who broke an alabaster box of ointment, poured the expensive perfume on JESUS and wiped his feet was a disgraced prostitute, many scholars question whether this woman and Mary, the sister of Lazarus were the same woman].  JESUS loved this family but HE does not go to see about Lazarus until two days later.  JESUS just stays where HE is.  HE makes no move to go to Mary or Martha or Lazarus.  JESUS tells the others with HIM the purpose of Lazarus’ illness is not death but rather to glorify GOD and so the SON of GOD will receive glory from this situation. 

After two days have passed, JESUS tells his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” When they arrive in Bethany, where Lazarus and his two sisters live, JESUS encounters Martha and later meets a weeping, grieving Mary, who falls to HIS feet saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When JESUS sees her weeping, and the other people who came to console Mary also weeping, because Lazarus had died and Lazarus’ body had already been entombed in a cave behind a stone for four days, the Bible says, JESUS “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.”  In other words, JESUS was deeply moved. Verse 33. The Bible says JESUS asked where they had laid Lazarus and was told to “come and see.” 

Then, JESUS wept. 

John 11:35 illustrates that JESUS not only sees our pain; HE feels our pain.  JESUS is not a neutral observer, watching human events unfold, without empathy.   JESUS understands grief.  HE understands sorrow.  HE understands our frailties.  Even if JESUS already knows what is going to happen, or that Lazarus or each of us will eventually rise, HE weeps for us.   So, when our spirit groans in our “uncertain situations; when we become overwhelmed, unable to see at times beyond our adversities, remember HE groans.  When we pray in times of weakness, having nowhere else to turn, wondering why GOD is taking so long, or why two days has turned into 2 years or longer, and we grow tired of waiting, the HOLY SPIRIT also knows and groans too, interceding and praying with us.  See Romans 8:26-27. We are not alone.  No, never alone.

This scripture is short but significant. 
 
Boost Your Self-Compassion to Exercise: 

Sometimes people deal with exercise from a distance.  Sometimes people just talk about exercise.  They may “plan” “consider” or “speculate.”  Sometimes people watch others exercise on television.  Some may even read articles, buy exercise CDs.

Others may buy exercise clothing, shoes, and other exercise paraphernalia.  A cycling machine may serve as a coat rack.  People may buy a number of pairs of walking shoes, but never consider taking a walk around. Hand exercise tools may go unused.  
  
If this is you, the point of saying all this is not so you will feel worse or experience more guilt, the point is that you consider having some self-compassion about your situation.  In other words, start taking care of yourself, start comforting yourself, speak to your own spirit, in order to stop looking down and start looking up. Have some self-compassion.
    
According to Harvard Health, research has shown that self-compassionate people recognize when they are suffering and are kind to themselves at these times, thereby lowering their levels or related anxiety and depression.  See:  https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/4-ways-to-boost-your-self-compassion

Harvard Health suggests four ways to boost your self-compassion skills:
  1. Comfort your body.  Eat something healthy. Lie down and rest. Massage your own hands and feet.  Take a walk. Anything you can do to improve how you feel physically gives you a dose of self-compassion.
  2. Write a letter to yourself. Write a letter to yourself describing the situation, but without blaming anyone — including yourself. Use this exercise to nurture your feelings. [Consider reminding yourself of all of the past “dead” situations you have already overcome.  Remind yourself that “you are still here, despite the weeping” Remind yourself how many times GOD may not have “come when you wanted HIM to, but the situation was still resolved, in GOD’s time.”]
  3. Give yourself encouragement. Think of what you would say to a good friend if he or she were facing a difficult or stressful situation. Then, when you find yourself in this kind of situation, direct these compassionate responses toward yourself.
  4. Practice mindfulness. Even a quick exercise, such as meditating for a few minutes, can be a great way to nurture and accept ourselves while we're in pain.

    Id. [Emphasis added.]  

    And, we should also add:

  5. Pray and Recite Scripture:  Remember JESUS and THE HOLY SPIRIT feel your pain. GOD is our Emmanuel – HE is with us. We are NEVER alone. We need to remind ourselves that weeping may endure for a day, or even two days, or 3 or 4 or more days, but we have scriptural promises, that if we believe, we will eventually “see” joy in the morning.  We can “do all things” because GOD “CAN do all things.”  Philippians 4:13. Pray that GOD will find GLORY in your difficult situation. John 11:4. 
Having self-compassion may also mean seeking help.  If you need additional health dealing with the gravity of your situation, if you need help with some of the stones in your life speaking with your physician, a psychologist, a school counselor (if you are in school/public or university) or a spiritual leader in your place of worship.  If you need an exercise boost, consult a trainer if going it alone is not working.  Get others personally involved in your life. You are not alone.   
 
Encourage Yourself

So, today, encourage yourself!  Have self-compassion!  Wait on THE LORD!   
 
BELIEVE and BE BLESSED!