Grief can set the gears of doubt and frustration in forward movement. Even though God has proven Himself nothing but faithful to me, the “no” answer to restoration of a life on this earth knocked me off my faith horse. I sunk to the depths of asking, “What kind of loving God would do this?”
But I can’t imagine how hopeless I would feel if there were no Jesus….if there had been no sacrifice made on man’s behalf in order to make spending an eternity with our loved ones a possibility. So, even though I’ve struggled with different aspects of my faith, I hold on to Jesus. One friend recently told me as she grieves her mother’s death that she is holding “with tight fists” onto the promises of God. I get it. Amen. You go girl! Tight fists, gritted teeth, stomping feet.
The supernatural world is closer than we think. That becomes obvious to me when I feel the oppression of the enemy pushing on my shoulders trying to convince me I’m not useful to God anymore. My faith has taken a huge blow. I don’t have easy answers. I can’t move mountains of disease and death. Where’s the authority we have in Christ? Is the death of our beloved just part of the enemy’s scheme to “take us out”? Or is it just life? Is it personal or not?
I was reading in Ephesians this morning. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children…” (5:1). There is more to the verse, but I felt the need to just sit here- to bask in the words, “dearly loved children.” I’m not sure I’ve gotten any profound revelations, but my heart was strangely warmed by these words. I keep hearing the Lord say, “Stay here. Tell them I love them. They are my beloved.”
The original word in this text is agapetos (ag-ap-ay-tos’). These are the definitions: beloved, dear, and dearly loved. It is difficult at times to feel dearly loved when your world is crashing around you. But you, we are.
What difference would it make in your faith and your life if you really believed you are God’s beloved little girl? Cherished….worth dying for….worth living for?
Remember, the enemy of God doesn’t want us to know God’s love. He wants to take us out. He will use whatever means he can. He doesn’t play fair, and he knows our weaknesses. He wants us to doubt the love of God.
Fight back because you are worth it. You are God’s beloved. I promise.
Find a scripture regarding God’s love for you or adopt Ephesians 5:1a. Jab the enemy in the jaw with the Truth. Take him out for a change! Tight fists, clenched teeth, stomping feet.
Much love,
andy
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12)
