Told you we'd come back to this verse.
Why do we seem to fear the things that would help us the most? Ever notice that? We go see a specialist or have to have surgery that would help us, and we're afraid (even knowing Jesus is there beside us). Or going to a physical therapist or any kind of therapist? Or when we're hurting, why do we shy away from our friends? Why do we isolate? Why do we just want to curl up in a little ball and pull the covers over our heads wishing the world would go away?
Or what about God? Why don't we believe Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Why don't I believe that? Let's be transparent a bit here. I feel pain I try to cover it up or stuff it or hide it in some way or another (y'know, because you can't show it anywhere - gotta have that plastic smile on your face). Really?
Our Father Who doesn't just live in 'heaven' in some obscure place - Our Father the One Who is everywhere at all times and watches over us without sleep - and probably not even blinking. Our Father who knows the number of hairs on our heads, for Pete's sake - THAT Father is there waiting for us to come to Him so that He can comfort us and heal our pain.
What do I do - high-tail the other way - like the rabbits I saw this morning in our front yard when I let the dog out - or the deer I almost hit going to workout this morning!
What is THAT all about? Fear. What are we afraid of? What am I afraid of? I'm afraid of someone touching that pain and setting off the biggest and baddest fireworks display that anyone has ever seen - very colorful - but going from anger to sadness to that well of garbage that the Lord wants to scoop out. But we're afraid. WHY?
We don't believe or grasp in any little way how much God, the Creator of the Universe, our Father - REALLY loves us. If we just understood just a small portion of that love He is always extending towards us, we would run to Him just like a small child would run to her daddy or mommy after falling down or skinning a knee. We believe that He loved us enough to send Jesus to die for our sins and become our Saviour and Lord. Why can't we believe He loves us enough heal our inner pain and anguish - to cleanse us from our pasts and make us whole and clean?
Fear. I believe we can get into a state of being afraid of being afraid - of being vulnerable - of allowing the Great Physician to come in and do some surgery. Surgery hurts - at some point. But don't we think that the One Who created us knows how to fix us?
Maybe we've been let down too many times by people - but this is God, Father.
Maybe we should give Him a chance - even the tiniest opening into our hearts. He already knows we're afraid.... so I'm sure He'll be gentle. I mean He was a gentle shepherd at one time who brought a lost sheep home.
Maybe we can reach out in hope, even if it's one last time and let Him break the chains of bondage to fear and let Him show us a little more of His love.
You are right, our tendency to protect ourselves can override what we know to be true...that Jesus is safer than anyone including ourselves. When I become aware of the things I do to cover over the garbage then I can make a choice to allow Him to touch it. It's not easy and I don't always do it, but I am getting there.
ReplyDeleteAny of us who want to grow in the Lord, has to make sacrifices in our lives. One being a sacrifice of self and self-protection. If my hands and arms are around myself protecting myself, then I'm not able to reach out and grab the Hand of Jesus to pull me to Himself and wrap His much, much stronger arms around me.
ReplyDeleteI think you were in my head, reading my thoughts with this one. So good and I waited a few days to read this one because I wasn't ready the other day. Great series and timely for me, with my actual surgery coming up on the 23rd. Thanks!
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