God can't fix how you pretend to feel.
"So then, we must cling in faith to all we know to be true. For we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose into the heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty. He understands humanity, for as a Man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness."
- Hebrews 4:14-16 (The Passion Translation)
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I don't yet have my own children but I am an auntie of two adorable little munchkins who I love more than words can express. I honestly don't know how actual parents can even handle the feelings of love for their children because if mine feel this strongly for my niece and nephew, I can't even imagine how actual parents must feel! As God has drawn me into deeper intimacy with Him over the past few months, He sweetly gave me this comparison to help illustrate His own love for me. He loves me as much as I love them. And the love I have for them is only a fragment of the love He has for me.
Whew! Selah.
But as I consider the way I feel about my niece & nephew, especially in light of how He showed me recently that our talents came from Him, I am reminded also that our emotions came from Him too. And not just the fuzzy happy ones either. Pain, anger, sadness and the like originated in Him too. Where did we get them from if not from Him?! We’re made in His very image & likeness.
I share this all to say, whatever emotions you're feeling today, I just want you to embrace them knowing that your Father in heaven feels them as deeply as you do; knows them as intimately as you do. If no one else understands, He surely does! So don't deny those emotions or judge them. Enjoy that deep love. Feel the grief. And trust that, if you are experiencing the not-so-fuzzy emotions right now, God can walk you through them to full recovery as someone who's been there. Just bring it to Him.
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Still hungry? Eat some more //
- Ephesians 3:18-19 (The Passion Translation) → some beautiful prose about how massive God's love is for us
- If you have gone through something traumatic recently that has knocked you off your feet and are searching for support & strength to recover, I invite you to join this powerful 5-day prayer challenge. PLEASE join. It starts tomorrow.
- Loving this worship song right now & wanted to share