When King David, a king of Israel, did an inventory of his heart he exposed murder and adultery and lying and self-righteous pride. He knew he deserved nothing from God but disapproval. Despite this, he relied on God’s loving kindness and wrote these words: Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13 NLT)
In the recovery process, as we make an inventory of our defects, we sometimes think first of ways others have let us down. We were hurt or betrayed, attacked or molested, lied to or beaten, stolen from or cheated. Sometimes this went on for numerous years. We came to believe that life was unsafe for us and we began to live in fear. Fear caused us to behave in unhealthy ways. At times, our actions towards others even mirrored the painful behaviour that was inflicted on us.
When our personal well-being hinges on the actions and opinions of other people, we will continually react in fear because we can never be sure when we might be rejected, criticized or ignored. Life based solely on human interaction is only as secure as the humans we entrust our lives to. We are created to live securely by living first for God, the God who loves us perfectly, in spite of our weaknesses.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 39 NLT)
In this life, all of us will have troubles. They will show up in various seasons of life, but God’s love will strengthen us and enable us to get through even the most devastating of times.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you. (Psalm 56:3 NKJV)
Prayer: Loving God, Help me to see You as You truly are, a God full of grace and power. Amen
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