Feeling Safe

I usually choose to write when life feels the hardest in order to process my own feelings and hope that it can help even one person turn to Jesus with their own struggles, and this post is no different.

Life has so many waves of ups and downs, and the downs can feel suffocating. Letting go of people in our lives can be one of the deepest downs we face.  Goodbyes are a part of life for so many different reasons, but they can be so hard.  Some are needed, some are unexpected, some are confusing- but typically they are all hard.  No matter the situation, a loss threatens our sense of safety, our sense of identity, sometimes our self worth, and can have so many affects on our day to day lives, no matter the size of the loss.

Sometimes through difficulties, God can seem really far away.  Not understanding why things are happening and feeling alone can lead to feeling like God isn't listening or doesn't care.  It feels like an extra betrayal on top of the pain life is already giving us.

Could it be that God feels so far away because we are placing our own anxieties of earthly relationships onto our relationship with Christ?

Let's take a look at difficulties in the world, and how Christ's love is different.

Loss due to our own mistakes:

I think this is one of the hardest types of loss we face.  While we are human and all mess up, sometimes these mistakes can cost us relationships.  Even when forgiveness is shown, a relationship may not be reparable due to our actions.  No matter the intention behind it, our words and actions have the ability to cause irreparable damage.

Viewing our relationship with God similarly to this can be so dangerous, but seeing the difference between our relationship with Him is a true picture of the beauty of His love for us, as well as His grace.  No sin is too big for Him.  We can try and run as far away from God as we can, but his love and grace is so steadfast that we can't outrun Him. 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Christ died for us after ALREADY knowing every single mistake we would make.  He chose on the cross to love us unconditionally for eternity.  

Loss due to betrayal:

Maybe it was someone else that has caused a painful ending to a relationship.  You loved deeply and fought hard for a friendship or relationship, but then you were hurt and left to wonder who you can trust.

I think it's easy to blame God for other people's actions.  When someone hurts us, it's easy to place the blame on God and say "How could you let this happen?  Don't you love me?".  The world is broken- we are broken.  Because of this, relationships will have pain and hurt in them.  God is not the one causing this, He is the one holding us through it.  

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is Eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

I like these verses for a few reasons: 1) They acknowledge life is hard.  This in itself is proof that God is not betraying us when life gets hard- He has told us from the beginning it would be difficult. 2) It's a reminder that what we experience on earth is not the end- what is to come once we are with Christ outweighs everything we could even begin to hope for on earth.  

Loss due to growing apart:

This type of loss is tough in a quiet way.  Even if there is nothing big or dramatic, it's a dull ache of a loss.  "Am I that forgettable?" "Do they not care?" "How did they replace me so easily?" These thoughts tend to fill the space and can make us question our value in relationships.

It's easy to feel like a big powerful God doesn't have time or the care to see us in our struggles.  It feels like our pain can slip by unnoticed- or if it is noticed, it doesn't matter.

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:3-7)

If God rejoices when we repent, how glad do you think He is when we chose to walk with Him daily?  No matter how many people there are in the world, He notices you and will look for you when you've gone away.

Finality:

Death brings a loss that can't be regained on earth.  There are no more words that can be said, no more memories that can be made.  Nothing about this is easy.  

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

God promises us a new life with Him that is free from death, free from pain, and filled with a love that is never ending.  God gives us an example of how to love each other by how He loves us, and He has the power to restore damaged relationships and take away pain whether it's on earth or in Heaven.

Life doesn't always feel good and earthly goodbyes hurt, but God shows up again and again to demonstrate what His love is.  His love is safe.