With open arms

Good morning family,

I'm wanting to write something significant today but it seems the words get in the way. You know, I am overcome at times with emotion about the state of affairs in life and the world around me. I tend to be a highly emotional person, which is sometimes my greatest blessing and sometimes my greatest curse.

I saw a baby the other day and she threw her arms open and ran to me. I was jealous of her as a human soul; of her innocence. She doesn't know what it feels like to open your arms and run to someone only to have them drop you by mistake. She hasn't had the time to see a scenario where people drop you on purpose or choose another baby over you either. She is still free. She is still open. Life will teach her because truthfully those moments of disappointment change us. They make us afraid of the very people we opened our arms and ran to in the past.

Let's be clear, I know that God is FAITHFUL. I know he doesn't overwhelm us, He gives us a choice. Our choice is whether to trust Him or to let those disappointments define us. However, just as Jesus knew Judas would disappoint him, it hurt anyway. He knew Peter would betray him and it hurt anyway. He had to know that his disciples would fall asleep at the brink of his very darkest hour, but it hurt anyway. Hurt is part of the human condition. Until we see the hand of God, showing us why the hurt came, sometimes we feel lost. Sometimes, just as Jesus was in the garden alone we ARE lost and without support. David said, "For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company". Job's friends blamed him for his bad fortune even though God allowed it on no basis. Trials and tribulations don't always have a reason even though the world around us always seeks to point fingers. The pointing of fingers at innocent people has defined the course of history. People who stand for right ARE the likeliest targets, not the least targeted. Jesus Christ, our divine example is the only example we really need.

After Jesus' trials he was resurrected to glory. That did not make the nails or the whip hurt any less. The future promise did not quiet the taunting of the crowd, the piercing of his side or the pain of having to watch his family see him suffer. All full God of Him cried out that He has been forsaken and yet still he asked the Father to forgive his enemies in their ignorance. He was nothing like that baby with her arms outstretched to me this weekend. He was fully aware, fully betrayed, fully alone and yet fully forgiving. I am not there yet but I pray God enlightens me further. I know there is a supernatural understanding that allows me to stand alone with a face full of tears but with full faith that all things work together. I will find it. Help me YHWH.

Blessings,

Chelsea