Janet Daley writes, “During the Second World War, the Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin fled across Europe from the Nazis. After weeks of running and hiding through occupied France, he reached his longed-for destination of Spain, from which it would have been possible to escape to America.

But on the day that he arrived, the Spanish border, which had been known to be open up to that point, was closed. Benjamin committed suicide in despair. With the most bizarre of paradoxes, the border re-opened the very next day. The closure had been only a temporary contingency.�

After striving, and running, and hiding, Benjamin had lost hope. He had come to a closed borderâ€"there was no way out.²

Perhaps you are striving, working so hard to do good, in order to be justified before God. But the moment you think you are making progress with your own efforts, you find the “border is closed�, and you cannot remove the guilt and the weight of your sin. Or maybe the weight of this world has become too much to bear, and you feel like you are drowning alone in stress and despair. It may be impossible to do it on our own, but when we come to Christ, we find hope, forgiveness of all our sins, and true freedom. The border to His Kingdom is always open, and he is ready to welcome you into his loving arms.

Recently I had a friend take his own life, and while we can never know the exact thoughts that leads someone to that moment and action, I can’t help but think “If only he would have cried out to God!� “If only he had reached out to someone for help!� I know from personal experience that God makes himself known to us when we call on him. In my darkest hours, in times when I have felt most alone, that is when I felt God the closest. I talk to him in the most genuine and transparent way. He knows every feeling because I tell him all of it! I encourage you, friend, to bring your heart to God. He does not condemn us but is compassionate and loves us unconditionally. He cares deeply and wants to give us freedom from whatever it is that we are carrying.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, it is often easy to get consumed by what I am feeling or the weight I am carrying. Whether it be sin or simply the stress of life, I ask that you give me the strength to come to you. Your “borders� are never closed, and you are waiting to give me rest and true freedom. Thank you for never leaving or forsaking me. I love you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT).

2. www.sermoncentral.com

Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.