Because sometimes we just need truth amidst the lies

Life shoots us with so many lies...

and so many expectations that are impossible. 

We talked last night about how imperfect we are before God-- how as soon as we fix one thing in our life we find 10 other things that make us unworthy of the love of the God of perfection. 

Either that, or we lie to ourselves and convince our poor tired hearts that we are doing so many great things for God. As if we could do him some kind of favor without actually needing him at all. 

But it all gets so confusing and complicated and, I for one, just need some rest. And we usually find true rest in truth. 

 he crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
 & satisfies you with good
 so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's...

The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.


[Psalm 103 ESV]

And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. [ 2 Coronicles 20 ESV keep reading ]

Thanks, Hannah for reminding me of this one.

I know this is long, but Paul Miller's words are so completely opposite of anything we hear from life and this idea of "hesed" love is beyond my comprehension... but I'm going to keep trying to understand.

​It's mysterious and beautiful and my heart longs for something real-- a love like Gods' int the face of the brokenness I see on the news and at my job and on the internet and in my life. 

“You endure the weight of love by being rooted in God. Your life energy needs to come from God, not the person you are loving. The more difficult the situation, the more you are forced into utter dependence on God. That is the crucible of love, where self-confidence and pride are stripped away, because you simply do not have the power or wisdom or ability in yourself to love. You know without a shadow of a doubt that you can’t love. That is the beginning of faith—knowing you can’t love. Faith is the power for love. Paul the apostle tells us that the I beam or hidden structure of the Christian life is “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6). Faith energizes love. We handle the weight of love by rooting ourselves in God. Our inability to sustain love drives us into dependence on God. Then faith becomes a continuous cry. Like the tax collector in the temple, we cry out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). In overwhelming situations where you are all out of human love, you discover that you are praying all the time because you can’t get from one moment to the next without God’s help. You realize you can’t do life on your own, and you need God and his love to be the center. You lean upon God because you can’t bear the weight of love. So faith is not a mountain to climb, but a valley to fall” 
― Paul E. Miller, A Loving Life