I feel like the last 6 months have been an intense lesson of learning how God loves me.
This is what I have learned:
He loves us enough to hurt us
Before you go thinking I'm crazy, let me explain.
I put this together in Honduras.
God says:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sister, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2 NIV
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.
Romans 5:3-5 NLT
Jesus takes us through the hard things because He knows that if we aren't forced to come to the end of our own ability, if we don't have to completely rely on His strength then we won't. We will simply try do all things in our strength and He receives little glory. In life, when all seems lost and broken and painful, He can see what is come to come. He can see the beauty just over the mountain. He just asks us to let Him be our strength to get to the top. So, when we let Him help us, He gives us the strength to do the impossible, and He receives all glory. This is an extremely painful process, but oh so incredibly worth it. We gain a new perspective of His love. A perspective that holds an indescribable beauty.
His love is constant
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us form God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below--indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
His love
is not dependent on our actions or response to Him. His love has
always been and always will be. He has known my face, my heart, my every
sin. And He has loved me enough to take the punishment deserved for sin. He
knew I would stubbornly resist His love. He knew I would never be able to fully
comprehend His love while on earth, but He that didn't stop Him. He saw how I would
rejoice in Him as I learned of His love. He saw how He could be glorified in my
life. He saw how His love could transform my life and be used to transform the lives around me. He saw the
beauty that would come, so He suffered. He was beaten to the point of death. He has loved me enough to take the punishment deserved for my sin. And when it seemed the enemy had won, He rose from the dead. He returned in glory.
He returned to make His love known among the earth. He returned to make
His love known in my heart. He returned to set the captive free.
So, this is what I have learned the last couple of months....He lets us experience pain of coming to the end of ourselves, so that we know the strength of His healing love. And His love is not affected by my lack of obedience or understanding. His love is forever. His love is extravagant.
Have you ever let yourself be loved by the one who made you?
Have you every told yourself to believe that His heart is on your side?
You could even try to run away, but there is nothing you can do
So just be loved, be loved, He loves you
Have you ever let yourself be held by the One who holds this world?
Have you ever told your soul to rejoice that His arms are open wide?
You could even try to run away, but He'd come running after you
So just be held, be held, He holds you
We didn't earn it, He just chose to give it,
and it's in our resting that we rise up singing rejoice,
again I say rejoice.
You are loved, be loved, He loves you.
