The other week we started looking at the Beatitudes and relating them to our lives today. The second verse of the Beatitudes is more often understood than the first verse. It says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Honestly, I didn't think this verse really applied to me at this time in my life. No one close to me has died. Since I'm not in mourning, what is there to be comforted about? Yet when I read this verse from The Message, I realized just how wrong I was. It says, "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
Excluding people, the thing I lost two years ago that was most dear to me was my independence. I remember when my doctor told me it was time to quit work and apply for disability. I remember moving my belongings into my parents' home. I remember becoming so sick I couldn't drive for over a year. That was one of the most difficult times in my life. I didn't realize how much I valued my independence until it was gone.
Honestly, I didn't think this verse really applied to me at this time in my life. No one close to me has died. Since I'm not in mourning, what is there to be comforted about? Yet when I read this verse from The Message, I realized just how wrong I was. It says, "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
Excluding people, the thing I lost two years ago that was most dear to me was my independence. I remember when my doctor told me it was time to quit work and apply for disability. I remember moving my belongings into my parents' home. I remember becoming so sick I couldn't drive for over a year. That was one of the most difficult times in my life. I didn't realize how much I valued my independence until it was gone.
For a long time, I hid behind a tough exterior and told everyone I was fine. However, the truth was I was deeply saddened by all I was having to go through, and I wanted nothing more than to go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hide. When I finally cried out to God in anger, frustration, and sadness, a remarkable thing began to happen. I began to feel God's presence in a way I never had before. I knew I wasn't alone in my pain. There were times I laid in my bed crying and could almost feel God's arms around me.
I'm not going to lie. That was an extremely difficult time in my life, but I wouldn't trade that time for all the money in the world. As strange as it may sound, this low point in my life catapulted me spiritually in my walk with God. It was one of the first times I knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that God cared about me - not my family, not what I did, but He cared about me.
Because of this time, I learned how important it is to go to God about everything. Yes, He is a big God, but despite this truth, He cares about the smallest details that affect our lives. This revelation is one we all need to have. It deepens our relationship with God in ways we can't even begin to imagine. Knowing that the Creator of the Universe is concerned about my problems and pain touches me to the very depths of my soul.
I speak from experience. God does embrace you when you feel you've lost the thing most dear to you. And when He does, God suddenly steps into His rightful place at the center of you life.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3 (The Message)
(c) August 10, 2011
I'm not going to lie. That was an extremely difficult time in my life, but I wouldn't trade that time for all the money in the world. As strange as it may sound, this low point in my life catapulted me spiritually in my walk with God. It was one of the first times I knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that God cared about me - not my family, not what I did, but He cared about me.
Because of this time, I learned how important it is to go to God about everything. Yes, He is a big God, but despite this truth, He cares about the smallest details that affect our lives. This revelation is one we all need to have. It deepens our relationship with God in ways we can't even begin to imagine. Knowing that the Creator of the Universe is concerned about my problems and pain touches me to the very depths of my soul.
I speak from experience. God does embrace you when you feel you've lost the thing most dear to you. And when He does, God suddenly steps into His rightful place at the center of you life.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3 (The Message)
(c) August 10, 2011
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