Hello my friend, I hope this post finds you well!
I’ve had some thoughts in my love gathering this week that I want to offer for your consideration. (I’m sure you have also been finding real strength and comfort through your study and prayer, and I would love to hear your thoughts too! Feel free to share in the comments!)
Our spiritual self-care (what we call love gathering at Lioness), is crucial for every facet of our health! It is the first step in being the agent of our lives, choosing to draw into ourselves the unending power of God’s love.
This is where we find true rest to our souls. This is where we find the love that can free us from the habit of chasing pseudo love, such as earning praise, seeking to feel more powerful by controlling or dominating others, constantly looking to be entertained to distract us from our emptiness, or simply hiding from challenge or risk in an attempt to quiet our hunger.
So first a question. Why did Jesus say, “My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you…?”
Why can Jesus offer us peace that we can’t get from other sources?
This thought distilled on me in answer: His peace, is dramatically different from any other source because with his great wisdom, love and power, he requires us to stand up and be agents, to take responsibility for our beliefs and actions, no matter how rightfully we came by them! (And isn’t this accountability-first pattern a stark contrast from the “support” available in the world to not only maintain, but to grow a “victim mentality” in search of peace?)
By his great loving sacrifice, he holds the keys of forgiveness, so when we see our error and go to him in repentant, humble prayer, he has the power to release us from our mistakes (the many ways we can be unloving to ourselves and others.)
He is the great example of being an Agent in all circumstances! Never did he revert to cruelty, or any unkindness because he was being treated badly!
How can there be greater, truer peace than being freed from the pain we suffer from our own unlovingness? From the many times we have justified being angry, yelling, or criticizing others?
You might say that your spouse or your friend or your parents are the ones who need to repent, and you would be right, because of course they do! But the equation gets muddled and your progress stifled and your attention distracted when you believe that if they would repent, then you would find peace!
But that is not Jesus’ way is it? And all the time we spend focused on the mistakes and behavior of others will not bring us the peace we desire!
Never in scripture do we sit as an observer, finding truth to pass on to those who actually need to change! Always Jesus is speaking to us!
As C.S. Lewis so masterfully wrote in his Narnia chronicles,
“Child,’ said the Lion, ‘I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy
Lastly, I have been working to put a chapter of Isaiah into my own words for my own learning and application. It has brought me so much comfort and peace that I want to share a bit with you, in hopes that you too will have a greater sense of God’s love for you!
In chapter 51, I hear Isaiah speaking as the Lord, inviting us to:
“Take my strength for your own!
Wear it upon you–don’t focus on the adversary because I have dominion over him as well!
Join those who have been redeemed (by their honesty and repentance), and not only will you be able to get through anything, but you will also be complete and blissfully light and content!
I am He–yes, I am He that comforts you!
Remember me and my strength and power! Surely you can’t forget that I created the heavens and the earth, so why would you be afraid of evil tyrants who are out to destroy? Their power is nothing next to mine!
You are captive? Don’t delay, hasten that you may be set free and not die in your captivity–Remember? I thy God made the waves crash and roar and Israel crossed the sea on dry ground! I will liberate you as you rely on me!
I have given you the words of salvation that you might fulfill your mission to bless all nations, You are under my protection and heaven and earth are prepared for the pure in heart, even Zion; you are mine!”
I believe this with all my heart: We are His.
I pray we can all go forward today in His strength as we run to Him, tell the truth and receive His love.
I think that you would enjoy reading and studying a talk given by David A. Bednar at BYU-Idaho on Jan 25, 2003 entitled “The Character of Christ”. It discusses the very things that you have mentioned. He talks about developing a Christlike Character and points out how the word, “act” is a central element of the word character and that how one acts reveals in a powerful way his or her true character. If we can learn to follow Christ’s example and reach outward when the natural and instinctive response is to turn inward (ie. being a victim instead of being an agent) even when we are experiencing difficulties in our own lives, and accompany that act with prayer, repentance and trust in Christ’s atonement, we can hope to eventually receive the spiritual gift of charity-the pure love of Christ.
Karla, thank you for your insights! I will find that talk and study it. I appreciate your example to me! Thank you for all you are doing to bless everyone around you, foremost your companion. I remember his powerful testimony and I think of it most times when I see you both. God bless!