I want you to understand something. Because you may not have heard it. Or you may have forgotten. You may be stuck, fiercely pretending that you can get yourself in hand long enough to approach God. Sometimes leaders tell you to leave your distractions outside the sanctuary in order to focus on God. A praise chorus we sing at my church says to "just forget about your worries" and "get up and on your feet and get to dancing,praising." Sometimes, with some troubles, we can do this. But sometimes we can't.
When the trouble wraps around our souls, we may feel left with only two options. We may pretend, desperately trying to buy into an emotional release we don't really feel. In the end, we lie to ourselves, to others, and to God. The weight of trying to live a different reality than our own threatens to turn us into a kind of hologram that no one can really touch. When I think that Christian culture sometimes encourages this charade, I feel angry. In an effort to be acceptable in such an environment, Christians may pretend healing--thus making a pale mockery seem like all there is to true redemption. The relationship God offers you with Himself is so much greater than that! It has depth and breadth enough to flood every nuance and shadow of your existence. The second alternative for those unable to disentangle themselves from "their worries" may seem to be withdrawal and isolation. If it's too difficult to march with the victorious throng, then find some convenient doorway and drop out of step. And then you are left alone. Though that may feel like a relief at first, it's not good in the end.
Do you know? Have you forgotten? When you belong to God, He is with you. He is near the broken hearted. He knows, as no one else ever will, every bruise and bug bite on your soul. Bring those troubles! Bring them right in and unwrap them. Let Him see. Listen for what He might say. Run, run, no matter what, to Him. Bring it all with you. You can't really deal with it on your own, anyway, you know.
You don't have to pretend. Because He is here and He knows and He loves you.
I don't normally post comments on your writings because, well to be honest, I feel my poor attempt at trying to convey how much it has touched me comes across trite and does a disservice to the original. So know I read, and am very much touched and always encouraged, even if there is no comment but a simple <3. because that symbol I find conveys my feelings better than words sometimes.
ReplyDeleteYou are such an encouragement to me, Christine! I know what you mean about commenting, though. I often feel clumsy when formulating my own responses :)
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