I have never felt so powerless. The other day all I could do was weep because there is something happening right now that all I can do is watch. I want to help. I want to change what is happening, but I can’t. All I can do is watch. And it feels awful.

As Easter is near, and this is “Holy Week” most of the thoughts of Christians are on what happened to Jesus. How awful it was that a perfect Man, loving in all of His ways was crucified. The perfect example of kindness and holiness was falsely accused, scourged, nailed to a cross. Spat on. Insulted. Shamed. Pierced. And all that loved Him and followed Him could do was stand and watch.

And then I thought about the story of a woman who did what she could. There were those that criticized her, yes, but Jesus didn’t. He promised something beautiful instead. He said:

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Mark 14:3-9 describes “The Anointing at Bethany”

“And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.

But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.

For you will have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.

She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.

Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” (NKJV)

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus honors those who do what they can? Isn’t it a beautiful example of a woman who knew she couldn’t change what was happening, yet still gave so extravagantly to do what she could?

This speaks to my heart that even though I can’t change what is happening, I can still love and show my love extravagantly, without reservation, and know that Jesus is pleased. Surrender to Christ is never giving up. It is giving away the ability to control anything; control we never really had in the first place. It is taking that thing that you are the most worried about and handing it to Him. It is anointing our risen Savior with faith and trust and worship.

This is the victory we celebrate at Easter. Because we have a risen Savior, there is absolutely nothing that can defeat us. Not really. We must be persuaded as the Apostle Paul when he wrote:

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us fro the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

As you read this, I am sure there are things that life has brought you that you feel powerless to change. A prodigal child. A diagnosis that won’t go away. Suffering that seems so unfair. Weep it out. Give it to the risen Savior and always choose love and faith. Do what you can. Step into the joy of hearing our risen Savior say, “She did what she could.”