God calls us.
God calls us to love everyone. Love the seemingly unlovable, the tough. God asks us to trust Him and walk with Him, in the midst of the unknown.
This year our family challenged with some tough relationships and situations. Together we faced the vulnerable, the scary, and uncharted territory for our family. We did not handle every situation well. However, we comprehended just a bit more of how much Jesus loves us, sacrificed for us, and pursues us, mess and all. The idea that we can even possibly pull ourselves together enough to present ourselves as lovable and desirable to God is laughable.
All of that being said,
What God calls us to may not be easy, in fact it probably won't be easy.
God doesn't promise easy, He promises that He is with us. God with us, Emmanuel.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 NASB
Jesus wasn't welcomed by all. His moments on earth were full of pain and suffering as well. There was purpose to it.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5 NIV
We cannot forget this truth every December we remember our Savior's birth. No matter what He asks us to do, or all of the difficulties and pain, joys and doubts we may face, He is here. Jesus has been, is, and always will be with us. There's nothing He cannot do. There's nothing too big for God.
Tough relationships that need mending.
A Christmas without a loved one.
Looming health issues.
Fear of the future.
Times of desperation or confusion.
Times of joy and praise.
Let us reflect on God's Truths this week and rest in Jesus. How are you taking to heart and embracing the fact that God is with us in the midst of it all? What does this mean for you this season? What is God asking you to move forward in today?
(I wrote this over the past month. Today in church, the message was almost exactly what I had written. God is good. The impressions on my heart He leaves in prayer times are reinforced through leaders and friends in life...so humbling!)