Horribly Pulled in Every Direction? Don't Fool Yourself With Self-Doubt
Praying hearts understand this truth: you can ask and expect God to answer.
Praying hearts understand this truth: you can ask and expect God to answer.
The fact of the matter is while we look at people's faces, God always looks at hearts. And while we are tallying up what is happening with others, God might be working something fantastically new within them. Face-value reactions are not our guide; the Holy Spirit is.
Even if you say, "What, God? Me? Don't you see I am in a deserted place? I have nothing to give. "Jesus replies, "You feed them."
I can't help but think it is not perfect, clean and shiny houses that bring people near, but real and authentic houses that really draw people in. It stops them. Jesus always walked into the space and place of vulnerability. Those who fell on their knees, cried out, felt less than, hopeless, broken...for these people, Jesus showed up, with power.
Jesus approaches prayer differently than I do. I'm struck by the time he addressed the blind man.
Every new beginning, in Christ, is a happy ending. It is literally impossible to submit to Jesus and to not see goodness. Sure, it may look different than you thought, but it will always be good. Better even.
I think back to the stories throughout the bible. So many times, religious, pious or scholarly folk missed Jesus' heart. He'd reply to them with wisdom, instruction or the way to go and they'd either rebuke him, walk away from Him or miss the point entirely.
Our weakness is not hated by our King. Our failings are not too much for His love. On the contrary, we can permit our Savior to fill every bit of us with every bit of Him, by the immensity of His love.
Do you experience shame? When you speak? When you act in the wrong way? When people catch you doing something? When you make a mistake?
Christmas isn't perfect, but Jesus is. He is perfect. He is love. And, I am under His love. With this, no matter what self-destructs this year — if the Christmas tree catches fire or if a stray cat wraps itself up in my tree lights if every trimming is burnt to a crisp, Jesus is still Jesus. And, Jesus still wants me.