THERE WAS A TIME, several years back, where my life seemed almost perfect. I had a wonderful career, plenty of money, great relationships with my children, family, lots of friends, and Jesus.
I was busy, but I had time freedom for volunteer work, hobbies, and vacations. After several failed marriages, I was also happy that I was not lonely as a single woman and grateful that I could manage alone.
I was independent, confident, and in control of my life, which had meaning and purpose. I was proud of my achievements and grateful to God for so many blessings and for the privilege of helping others to reach their own goals. I considered myself a good person, contributing to my little piece of the world in a positive way.
And then the wheels fell off my bus.
It was a difficult lesson in which I learned that I had confined myself by the people, places, and things that defined me. It was only when I found myself fighting for, but losing those people, places, and things that defined me that I could see the grip they had on me.
And when they were gone, one by one, and over several years, God showed me what was in my heart.
I loved my life as it was, as it had been, but not because of what my life meant or gave to others.
I loved my life for what it gave to me.
It is because of God’s love that he sends adversity, for, without adversity, we cannot know love, and it is only when we know love that we can know the many substitutes we use as a counterfeit to love.
It is through the journey of adversity and loss that we can make the distinction between love and desire; which is nothing more than lust. It is a lesson that only God can teach because no one is willing, in and of his own power, to destroy the things that give him meaning and purpose; that feed his ego.
The adversity comes like fire from heaven, meeting us in our tidy, organized, respectable, and secure confinement, and turns our power, position, prestige, possessions, and people to ashes. Our many costumes and hats are destroyed, even as we cry out, “Father, why have you forsaken me?”
The dust settles and we see that the chains, which held us in the captivity of our own confinement, are gone.
We marvel at the fact that we survived the death we expected if I lose this person, place, or thing and realize we were more afraid of Shame and Humiliation than any tangible loss.
At the same time, with our hopes and dreams shattered of the life we were supposed to live, we draw closer to God, for we are lost and afraid in the nothingness in which we stand.
Then we remember that it had been a long time since we needed God.
And we are grateful that he still loves us.
Anyway.
I learned that God is good on his promise to never destroy his children completely, but he will destroy the things they covet. It is a lesson with purpose, to teach us the way to freedom.
Above all else, it is a lesson to prove how much we are loved; first by God, and then by others, not by the things which define us, but by who we are.
Love is not love if it is earned or deserved.
Love is not love unless it can stand unscathed and strengthened through the test of adversity.
When we are defined by love, and nothing more, we can live free for love will never confine us.
And Jesus said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
“And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.’
‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
“So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 4: 15-21
Matthew 27:46,Psalm 22,Job 42:5,1 John 2:15-16,Genesis 39:20-23
As always, it is my intent and hope that my words may encourage you wherever you are in your journey.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.–Jesus (Mark 4:23)
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