His power in us is the life-giving grace that floods our burdened hearts with peace, grace, and long-suffering. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
When I allow the power of His resurrection to course through my veins, something shifts inside me. He is so passionate about pursuing us to bring heaven to earth, so we experience the transformation of our hearts and minds. I can help others feel through the waves of their emotion and allow them to linger longer in the peace that comes when the waves cease. We need to know the power of Christ in us. Healing and wholeness can so often feel just out of reach. I also know it is not enough to undo our aloneness or to feel understood - we need to experience transformation. I know the ache of a human heart that lives with hurt, disappointment, and loss. Then, through empathy, I start to feel anger and deep sadness for the victims. I witness them telling of trauma histories that have turned my stomach in knots. I sit across from them while they tell me their stories of pain. Every day people are constantly falling into pits that they dug for themselves, and then they experience heartache and disappointment. I know I am not alone because I work with people whose lives are messy.
In christ alone free#
Maybe you don't ever say something out loud you later regret? Maybe your family is free of awkward moments of discomfort and conflict? Maybe it is just us? Maybe my ordinary, messy life is not typical? Maybe your children are always respectable, obedient, and lovely - both privately and publicly. Maybe you and your spouse always get along. Relationships are messy and often reactive. This is the real, rusty and relevant, rubber hitting the road of relationships. How does a conversation like this continue for you? Does the voice of Jesus in your head condemn you for feeling this way? Does He quote some Bible verse about "not letting the sun go down on your anger" or forgiving your brother and "turning the other cheek?" Does Jesus sit and stare at you with judgment in His eyes? I always have to be the first to make amends. I am just so frustrated that my bones ache. Jesus: Because you want them to hurt too? Me: I think it would feel better if they knew how they hurt me. they might not be able to hold your hurt, but I can. This is a loose transcript of a typical conversation: Me: I am pretty mad Instead, I go to my quiet place where Jesus waits with me. The darkness is where unresolved hurt festers. I have learned not to sit in emotional dark places alone.
To see and be seen and to be accepted and supported.
My end goal is to have authentic, meaningful, loving connections with my people. When I am wrestling internally, I know I need the perspective of someone who both loves me and loves me enough to tell me the truth. Sharing this pain for the world to hear will not clear the fog away to connect with the love of God, and it will not heal my heart. And then, suppose there is no resolution to the initial hurt? Suppose I have to continue interacting with all of the "someones" who are a part of my irritation? I could so easily pick up my hurt and disappointment the moment I am in their presence. I'm sure one of my besties would come alongside me and say, "heck ya, that wasn't very respectful to you!" Or, "how dare they do that!! You sure do have a right to be mad! I would be mad too!" My chin would jut out, my shoulders would drop down, and I would stand taller, feeling vindicated and understood. None of that would transform my hurt, soften my disappointment or soothe my anger. I would see those likes and comments of validation, knowing that others share or at least understand my emotions. I could weave this tale with a friend or post something in an eerily passive way on social media. Someone took the last bit of coffee cream, leaving me with skim milk. The garbage cans are still sitting at the end of the driveway, and it was garbage day four days ago. Someone borrowed the car and brought it home empty. How do I connect to the love of God with the emotion of anger coursing through my veins? Today is a very human kind of day where no one filled the dishwasher or offered to help with the groceries.
I am supposed to be writing about the love of God in Christ alone.
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