Prologue
So it began with my heart feeling broken again... It always hurts and saddens me to see people choose a different route instead of walking into God's safe waiting embrace. It sounds most reasonable, if we choose to put it this way, that in the midst of pain and suffering, the most logical and reasonable path one should take, is into the loving, giving and comforting arms of our Saviour, our Lover, our Creator.
But why? Because we know and have experienced that He is the Alpha and Omega, and He works for the good of those who loves Him, and His Promises are Yes and Amen. And He promises so many good things to us... so why do people still choose to walk away?
Here's goes:
Nowadays, I think about all the people in my life. And I ask God what makes someone grow so much more. It is the heart. The heart to be so open to God and His ways. The obedience to do what God tells us to do, even though its not what we want. The humility to admit our weaknesses, not fight for pride 面子 or rights.
In times as such, our pride and ego, and inability to be weak or kind is really heart breaking. The mass majority choose to protect our hearts, but we're really only fragile within. A tough exterior for protection - but a broken hurt heart within.
It takes a lot of courage to open up, be bashed and smashed. But if we allow that to happen, then we realise that nothing worse can actually happen to us.
I've learned that if I want to love, I must be prepared to be hurt. If I want to serve, then serve without hoping for affirmation in return. I have to be prepared to be disappointed. It's true, but nobody wants to go down that path, especially if you get smashed repeatedly. It's not easy.... unless you go down that path with Lots of God.
Lots of God
Yes, "Lots of God". I mean, we need a lot of God. God to increase in our lives. Let God just move freely in our hearts and lives, can't we? Many are trying, but it's easier to walk away nowadays. Well, I'd say, take the hard way. I find it's worth it.
To me, the hard way may initially seem and feel difficult, but when all the hardship and afflictions doesn't matter to you anymore, that's when the surrendering comes in. We struggle less. We either hold on tight to what matters to us, or release ourselves into what may physically look difficult, but spiritually, we are set free in God's love.
But, we need to experience it, if not all these would just be Christian jargon!
Choose to Take His Hand
When we fall down, it's either we stay there, or take His hand and allow Him to guide us. Take His hands - we become vulnerable physically because it requires Faith and Trust. Or we can stay there, and use our own strength - protect ourselves, harden our hearts even more.
But that hardening filled with scars become very brittle and nobody can see that. Friends, let's release our hearts to God... I believe He will heal all the hurts inflicted by this world. More so, God will fill our hearts with His love.
Bleeding Love
The song that comes to my mind is "Bleeding Love" from Leona Lewis. This song was written by Ryan Tedder, a Christian worship leader. He wrote this song talking about God's love for him.. (but of course the MTV here has been made secular..)
Let me share some parts of the lyrics with you:
"...You cut me open and I keep bleeding, keep keep bleeding love.."
Don't harden our hearts, let us be cut, but because we've already been touched and filled with God's love, each time we're cut open, we can only bleed love. Only love can flow out.
"...My heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing..."
Don't close up the heart, nor the vein. Each time you close up a part of you, you're crippled. Our hearts get crippled. Close the vein - we become crippled.
There are many challenges in the world now and it's easy to be cut. It's hard to stand tough! In the naked eye of the world, we may all seem like 'softies' Christians.
Not Soft But Tough!
But let me tell you something. We may look soft, easy targets for bullying - but I'd say we're not. My colleague said I was 'stupid' because I chose to follow God's ways. But I know God is good and let me share with you Psalm 37.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
- Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV)
Christians who live by God's ways are not softies. Allowing ourselves to reach a state of vulnerability because of His love, makes us 'soft but tough'. A different kind of softness.
I think Jesus was tough! My Jesus was and is my Super Tough SuperHero! In His toughness, He chose to become soft for the world to be saved. Well, my friend said that 'soft people can't go through what Jesus went through'.
Jesus is strong. Let our understanding of true strength this day be revolutionized.
My prayer this day is for all to thrive within the embrace of God's love. It takes courage to become weak, to give up our rights, to give up our pride.. to courageous love.
Loving a neighbour, or a person in your heart... or your colleague, or your enemy... your family.. it all takes courage. Doing something for another person... you might not receive the kind of response you want, but the moment you decide to show an act of love, because you love them, do it without hoping for something in return.
I've learned to be honest with my heart. To love boldly. I don't want to look back many years later and regret not loving because of pride or fear of showing my vulnerability.
One thing I know for sure, is that God's got my vulnerability back up, so has He got yours too.
Epilogue
If you struggle to walk with God, or struggle to have a stronger faith to trust in His best ways for you... then there might be something you are holding on to so tightly that you're afraid of losing. Once you let go of that and ask for God's best for you, what is BEST for you will definitely be placed into your hands. No doubt.
He created us from the beginning, so He knows us best.
I'm still learning this - embracing this process of being open to God, yet in my imperfections walking in His Grace.
Alright... time to say a prayer... and thank my superhero tough tough Jesus! :)
