Unfathomable Love.. Accept it.

First of all, all of your posts are super encouraging, and I find myself wanting to comment on all of them or highlight key parts that make me just go mmmmmm.. Your hearts are all so beautiful and I can't believe how blessed I am to get to be around you guys this summer. There's just something so refreshing about being around sonshine staff. You can feel God dancing out of all of your mouths. I don't think that even makes sense but I like it.

Okay I reallly enjoyed the simplicity of this story. Somehow, reading it in such a straightforward text made my heart really absorb the message better and understand what it was getting at. Not only that though. It also made the emotions of the people in the story so much clearer and easier to relate to.

When I was reading the part about Jesus in the garden, tears were ROLLING down my cheeks. Jesus was terrified. He was so.. just human. Yes he had amazing faith in His father and knew He would submit to God's will. But he pleaded for any other way: "Is there any other way to get your children back? To heal their hearts? To get rid of the poison?" He did NOT want to do it. Who would? The thought of being nailed to a cross. Having everyone else's sickness, sin, brokenness, pain poured out into yourself. The thought of being separated from God's love. If any other person was asked to do that they'd avert their eyes and run the other way. This makes what Jesus did soooo incredible. He had all of our emotions. All of our fears. But He let His choices be governed by love and trust rather than fear. He was submissive.

It's humiliating how often I let myself be governed by fear: My brain: "I'm not going to let my walls down. To talk about what's really hurting me. To talk about what I'm scared of/my weaknesses. To ask this person how I can be praying for them. To start a conversation with the person sitting next to me and break this tension in the air." It's easier to hide rather than to put ourselves out there in faith and step out on the water with Jesus. And God's really convicting me of that. He calls us to do some really uncomfortable things to bring Him glory and help us grow. And when we're obedient, He rewards us with peace and fulfillment and joy. And I feel that joy/that contentment when I trust God and let go of my need for worldly approval. And when I drop my pride.

Another part that stuck out was "It wasn't the nails that kept Jesus there. It was love." I just had to stop and dwell on that line. He had the power to stop all of the evil with a single word. But He endured the torture. Because He loves us. Despite how totally broken and messed up we are. He loves us in a way we can't explain. We can only accept it and praise Him.

Another really cool part:

'"I don't know where Jesus is!" Mary said urgently. "I can't find him." But it was all right. Jesus knew where she was. And he had found her. "Mary!"'
We can'tt make our own way to Jesus. We can't find him. We can't GET to Him. He comes to us. He stands beside us with his hand outstretched constantly and we can't have that relationship with him unless we acknowledge that nothing we do makes that relationship possible. But when we tell Jesus to come to us, He does. In fact He's already standing there.

Flashback to being a barney last summer and Emily asking me how close I would "let" Jesus to come to me. And me in my foolishness replying "as close as I want Him to". There's nooo fulfillment in that! God hates lukewarm Christians. And besides, even when you think you can keep Jesus on a leash (just far enough to make yourself comfortable) He's right next to you already anyway.

Plus what's the point of trying to push Jesus away? How does that make any sense at all? He holds his arms outstretched to us in love with the promise of a "forever happiness that won't ever leave". He knows we'll mess up but vows to love us unconditionally and constantly draw us to Himself. He vows to be our stable rock and create a life for us that is purposeful and genuine and true. Who would turn down love like that! Yet we do it every day.

This passage really reminded me of the sacredness of Easter and how important it is to stop. And dwell on what Jesus did for us.

I look forward to continuing to go through this devotional with all of you and can't wait for this summer. Hope you're all doing well.

Lots of love,
Joy