Expiration Date on Survival
"The Expiration Date on Survival Mode"
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”
Jesus hung on the cross for six hours, but His loudest cry wasn't about physical pain. It was a cry of emotional agony and total isolation. As He bore the world's sins, He experienced a crushing spiritual darkness, treading the winepress of judgment completely alone.
When life gets dark, polished religious catch phrases lose their weight. You make a wrong turn, try to fix it yourself, and end up digging a deeper hole. The detour becomes a habit, lies compound like debt, and you harden your heart just to survive.
That's when chunch slogans like "leave it at the feet of Jesus" feel meaningless, especially when the old life is all you know.
But look at the cross. Jesus didn’t give a polite, religious answer; He cried out a raw question into a black sky... He experienced your exact isolation. He took that absolute abandonment so your darkness wouldn't be a death sentence. Being born again means realizing He meets you inside the hole, speaks your language of survival, and stops you from digging alone.
Lord, I am relieved it's over! I was tired of trying to outsmart my mistakes and cheat life to survive. I used to be concerned that my own discipline wouldn't last. Now, instead I praise You, and Thank You for pulling me out of the darkness. Thank You that Jesus was abandoned so that I never will be. Be my anchor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Note to self;
🔥 Willpower and "survival mode" have an expiration date!
✋️Trying to fix past mistakes using the same broken human logic only digs a deeper emotional and spiritual hole.
💔 Jesus did not suffer a polished, polite death. By crying out in absolute isolation, He validated our darkest moments of feeling abandoned.
✨️ Being born again is not instant perfection. It is realizing Jesus meets you directly inside your mess.
"What is one 'broken human logic' habit you are finally ready to stop using to fix your past?"
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Psalm 22:1 — "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?"
Psalm 139:8 — "If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." .
Isaiah 53:3 — "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain."
Drawing from personal reflection and Scriptural insights, I've found that the concept of an 'expiration date on survival mode' resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced prolonged hardship. Like many, I once relied heavily on willpower and my own efforts to overcome life's challenges. However, each attempt to fix my past mistakes with the same 'broken human logic' only led me deeper into emotional and spiritual isolation. The image of Jesus crying out, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"—My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?—brings a raw honesty to faith that is often missing in polished religious phrases. It shows that even Jesus endured profound despair and abandonment, validating that our moments of darkness are real and acknowledged by God. A verse that has helped me tremendously is Psalm 139:8: "If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." This reassures me that no matter how deep the hole, God is present. It is not about instant perfection but about embracing the process of being met by Jesus within our mess. Psalm 51:17 reminds us, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." This teaches that surrendering our worn-out survival tactics and approaching God with humility is the beginning of true healing. From experience, one helpful shift is acknowledging when survival mode has worn thin—when willpower runs out, and the old habits no longer serve us. Only by surrendering control and allowing Jesus to anchor us can we find relief and hope beyond our struggles. Embracing faith as a journey rather than a finished destination allows us to stop digging alone and instead trust in spiritual renewal. So for anyone feeling stuck in survival mode, know that feeling abandoned or isolated does not mean you are alone or forsaken. Jesus’ own experience on the cross serves as a bridge to meet us where we are, validating our pain and leading us towards restoration and grace.
Thank you Lord what you did at calvery!