What absolute heart break Christ has endured on account of loving us. So many things in our lives are fighting for our attention and our affection. Our idols are seeking to evict the Lord from the place in our hearts and usurp him from his throne. We cast him aside as though he is replaceable by something of little worth by comparison. In our pursuit of happiness we give way to selfish desire and enable our affection to be driven by things that will never satisfy.
Like trying to mend a gaping wound with a mere bandage, our emptiness cannot be filled with anything or anyone except the one who gives the very purpose to life itself. Time and time again, you think we'd learn to turn our face to the one who holds the key in his hand or we'd think he would learn to give up on us and stop subjecting himself to such pain and heartbreak. We run around like a tramp, taking advantage to give us pleasure. Yet he loves us. Though our attention and our affection has turned elsewhere, he loves us still, despite our unfaithfulness, despite our adulterous hearts. How scandalous, yet beautiful and perfect his love is.
But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was ebbing away I remembered you, Lord and my prayer rose to you to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
– Jonah 2:6-8
More and more each day I am made more aware of the wickedness in my own heart. My own desire for comfort and security is stunting my ability to grow. If there's one thing that has consistently been drilled into my head, it's that moving past comfort and security enables serious growth.
When a marathon runner trains for his race, he doesn't merely do the same routine that is comfortable and easy; instead he is constantly pushing himself, stretching himself, putting himself under stress to better equip his muscles to get the job done. Why would spiritual growth be any different? The more uncomfortable situations we are put in, the more trials and sufferings, the more we will grow in faith and maturity in Christ.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
– 1 Peter 1:6-7
My challenge to you is to take a look around at the trials in your life and thank the Lord for them. He is able to redeem any situation for his good. Though it is painful, he is using it to grow you and draw you closer to him. He cares to much for us to let us stay where we are. Perhaps the very thing that you are angry at God for he is using to draw you closer to him.
