If I only had one more opportunity to communicate to our readers (and I hope this is not my last article), what would I want to say? There is only one foundational truth that makes life worth living and that is GOD LOVES YOU.
Personally, I struggle with such a truth. I can explain it in my head; I know lots of Scriptures to put with it and I've heard dozens of sermons on it yet this truth often loses its way on the path from my head to my heart. I think of my failures and all my "should haves." I consider my weakness as I age and my inability to do all the things I want to do for the Lord. I remember hard times when I wasn't sure how we could feed and house our family. I think of hurtful actions from other people and the painful, long-lasting consequences.
God's love message can be obscured by actions from other people, even by leaders in the church. I cannot comprehend how some people think their horrific actions against others, especially little children, can be okay. I don't see how they can possibly know God and do such things, because God is clear about how He feels about someone causing one of His little ones to stumble. It is definitely not a good place to be. Yet, even here, God offers those walking in darkness an opportunity to receive forgiveness before it is too late.
God knows that life on planet earth is difficult. He warned His followers that the world would hate them because they hated Him. He warned His disciples that, because of "the increase of wickedness, the love of most [would] grow cold" Matthew 24:12).
Don't give up. If you don't know God, seek Him out. He is looking for you. He is the Good Shepherd. He came to seek and save those who were lost. He came to set us free from the world's dark ways and bring us into a kingdom of light, hope, joy and love.
If you have been serving Him faithfully, know that He sees your labor of love. He knows the heartaches and the weariness that can come. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).
The only way I can believe God loves me is to ask for grace to understand. His love is too great for me to wrap my physical brain around. As the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he asked that those "being rooted and established in love, [would] have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that [they] may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-19).
It has been a long, cold winter for many in North America. Enjoy the coming spring and the light of God's love!
© Sue Carlisle 2013. Sue Carlisle is a member of the Ponca tribe and spent much of her youth on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Her passion is to encourage people to look at creation and see our awesome Creator.
