We spend most of our time living life on the outer edges in shallow places, oblivious to the presence of God. Jesus describes it as being blind to the eternal dimension of life. We are blind to the boundless generosity of God, who sustains and holds everything together in the creation around us.
Changing living on the outer edges takes a seismic event or struggle that upsets our way of doing things to radically transform our view. When our routine collapses, it lays bare the shallow places of our existence and causes us to reevaluate what is of the most value to us.
When a worldwide virus has the power to grip us with fear, it provides the opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of life. It highlights the awareness that any control that we thought we had over our lives is an illusion. The fear of the vast unknown forces us to face the fact that our life on earth is brief and passes away. (We all Need a Pause Button in Life)
In those moments, we seek answers to our questions about God and why we suffer and die. There is no satisfactory explanation that anyone can give us. For myself, there are things that I must accept as real or otherwise; it will drive me crazy. No concrete answers justify the cynic in me or anyone else. All I know is when I go beyond my outer edges and limits, and when I surrender my life to God, I discover an intimacy with God that defies rational explanation.
I know we exist because God is, but my spirit contemplates another truth; we exist because God loves us, and because God loves us, we live and move and have our being in him. God has continued to create since the beginning of time, and in Christ, everything exists and holds together. We would cease to exist when God ceases creating and sustaining everything. Our very person and life are bonded together by the sustaining love of God. (You are Never Alone for I am Always with You)
Although living in an imperfect world, some of us can see beyond the shallow places. There are moments we see God in the face of a child or a beautiful sunset. Today we see a glimpse of God in the selfless workers providing care during the crisis. May we, at this moment, fathom God the Father and Mother’s love for us, sustaining us through Christ. May we trust the One who has an eternal plan for our life, supporting us with hope and encouragement through the emotional trauma and upheaval we feel.
I will experience the peace of God during the storm. Through the mystery of the cross, I will imagine the One who suffered and died and was raised again to reveal God’s love for all humanity. My heart rests in the confidence that the suffering Messiah loves me unconditionally and is with me and will be with me through every struggle. The message of the cross proclaims there is hope beyond all our suffering and pain. (We are all Broken and that’s All Right)
In these troubling hours, I trust the love of God will comfort your pain and suffering. May we experience Christ’s love reaching out to us and giving us hope. When we know God loves us, that love will sustain us through the pain of any suffering. Job proclaimed after the loss of everything I know that my redeemer lives, and even though he slays me, I will praise him. I will put my trust in God and not myself for answers. I will trust the One who gave me life will also sustain me through every trouble.
Our confidence, I pray, is not unlike Job’s spiritual perspective on life. God’s love protects us from nothing that may happen to us. However, it does give us an unexplainable inner strength to sustain us through every sorrow and question concerning life. I no longer live in the outer edges of life but in the depths of God’s love and resurrection presence. I hold onto that my redeemer lives, and his love extends throughout eternity into the highest heavens, and I am safe.
Scripture:
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 NIV
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Job 13:15 NIV
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. Job 19:25 NIV
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