"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Romans 5:1-5
Several months back, I was going through a really hard time in my life. I was drained spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I remember one day in particular when I just could not stop crying. I didn't even really have any particular reason to be crying. Tears just kept welling up in my eyes and before I knew it, I was sobbing uncontrollably. That day, my dad just happened to be there visiting me. At one point, he heard me crying and asked me what was wrong. I didn't know how to explain it to him, as it wasn't something I really even understood myself. I will never forget what he took place in the moments that followed. He wrapped me in his arms while I cried. After I had calmed down, he looked me in the eyes and said "Lindsey, we will never be disappointed in you." He told me that I had been such a blessing to him and my mom as a daughter and that whether I decided to go to nursing school or not, that would not change their love for me. Nothing could change how much they love me.
Oh, what a beautiful reminder that was of how much God loves me. When my earthly daddy said those sweet, reassuring words to me, I could hear my Heavenly Father saying just that and more ("He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all"...Romans 8:32a). I was reminded of this occurrence recently after seeing a Francis Chan video based on his book, Forgotten God. The video was about how the Holy Spirit shows his love for all of his children in different ways, just like earthly fathers show each of their children love differently. For example, when I was growing up, my dad showed me love by always knowing how to cheer me up if I was sad or grumpy. He knew all he had to do was start making corny jokes or tickling me to death. With my brother, it was quite different. He could show my brother love by wrestling with him or taking him fishing. And he showed my older sister love by giving her attention, and by treating her like the princess that she was :)
The point is that God, who demonstrates His great love for us by coming and dwelling among us and dying for us, does not stop at that! He continues to show His love for His children by the Holy Spirit within us. ("So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:12-17) The Spirit bears witness to God's love for us, but this does not look the same in all of us! Just as I would not look at my earthly father and say, "Why don't you show me you love me by taking me fishing?!", I should not say to my Heavenly Father, "You gave so and so all that money, so you must love them...what about me?". God's ways are much higher than mine, and He knows what I need even better than I know myself.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me and for whispering to me that I am never a disappointment to You because when You look at me, You see Jesus.
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