Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety Through Connection Sample

Show Up

I love the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It’s a powerful foreshadowing of what Jesus would ultimately do Himself. But it’s what Jesus does before he shouts “Lazarus, Come Out,” that has always struck me. Jesus didn’t rush to “fix” the problem. In fact, Jesus knew He had the power to heal Lazarus at any moment, but he didn’t heal him right away. Instead, for reasons unknown to us, Jesus heard of Lazarus’s sickness, and instead of healing him with a prayer from a distance, he showed up.

Jesus shows up. He also showed up for the woman at the well. He showed up for Thomas after the resurrection. Jesus showed up for Peter on the beach when Peter was feeling shame for his mistakes. He showed up for Zacchaeus, Levi, and many more.

Just His presence matters. People longed for His presence. Wherever Jesus was, he was 100% there and present. He wasn’t distracted or preoccupied. He was and is just there.

In today’s world, it can be difficult for us to be 100% there when we show up. But, showing up and being fully present is vital for helping others to heal from despair. Distractions keep us from fully seeing deeper and asking the right questions. Distractions will make it difficult for us to slow our minds down and engage the emotional side of our brain. Engaging the emotional side of our brains is necessary for empathy. Be armed with empathy and love, showing up is simply 50% of the work.