Sigh… (Mark 7:34) 290908
And looking up to heaven, with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” (Mark 7:34)
I am going back to Singapore Bible College today for its Homecoming. I have been going back for past few weeks to attend chapels, and use the library resources. It is nothing new. But today, I will meet up with many of my classmates whom I have intentionally trying to avoid ever since graduation. It is not because I don’t like them or have anything against them, it is because I am going through a recovery process and need some space for myself. I sort of tired being asked about my being as I am not in the condition to share.
Today, I will meet many of them again, and I know that they will ask how I am doing, what I am doing and so on. But at least I am ready to face them and most importantly, I can face myself. Jesus looked up to the heaven and with a deep sigh, spoke healing to a man who was deaf and had speech difficulty. I am trying to imagine what Jesus was doing. He lifted up His head, looking toward heaven. He probably saw His Heavenly Father sitting at His throne, looking down at Him. With a deep sigh, or a deep breath, or some form of long and intimate conversation with His Father; Jesus commanded the ear to be opened and tongue to be loosen so that the man can hear and speak.
I had a long and intimate time with God during my journey through the dark season of my soul. I have nothing to cling on to, but Jesus. I have no courage to speak to anyone, but to Jesus. I have no ear to hear from anyone, but from Jesus. As I walked through this season of darkness, I know that I have come out stronger and closer to God. I am able to open my ears to hear His voice clearer and loosen my tongues to speak words of blessing to others.
As you read this, you may accuse me for interpreting this verse out of context, but before you judge me, read your heart. When was the last time you really look up to heaven and have a long deep sigh? Commentators have agreed that the “deep sigh” here refers to a form of prayer whereby Jesus was breathing out to His Heaven Father out of His soul emotionally.
I desire to have long and deep sigh as I look to heaven. Do you? I long to just spend time to wait upon the Lord to speak a word, so that my ears can hear, my mouth can speak and my heart can feel the heartbeat of God in my day to day events.
I have been trying to wait up at 5am to spend this sacred moment with Jesus. This is my sacred moment, not yours. This is my sacred moment whereby I can sigh deeply as long as I want and write my devotion. This is my sacred moment whereby I can simply enjoy God’s presence. This is my sacred moment I can hear and write the heartbeat of God. This is the moment I am healed and ready to step out of my boat to walk on water. This is my sacred moment, not yours. You are merely reading my sacred moment. Do you have a sacred moment whereby you can sigh deeply too?
When was the last time you express your deepest emotion to God? May it be joy or sadness, may it be trials or victories, and may it be challenges or blessings? We need to get beneath our shallowness of our expression of our emotion with God, anyway, He sees through us. Be opened. Have a deep sigh.
May God grant me great time today to reconnect with my classmates and others, as I connect with God with a deep sigh.
HHS…
Abel…
