Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it IS the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ Acts 17:22-28 (NIV)
Everything that God has done or allowed down through the ages in the history of mankind has been so that we human beings might seek Him, search for Him, and by such perhaps reach out for Him to find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. Without Him, no one ever lives, moves or has existed. Think of this, a perfect righteous God has been willing down through the corridors of time to be mocked, criticized, beaten, denied, and spit upon by the very creatures whose life and breath is dependent upon Him. Within the God-head there is so much love: the Father for the Son, the Son for the Father; all embodied and encircled with the Holy Spirit whose very essence is an outpouring of that love. There it is we find God’s Love was so great He was compelled to share that. Hence for that purpose He created man and woman. Yet, without free will and choice to choose love; this His creation could never experience the magnitude of His love. They could never experience the depth of His joy nor begin to know His Glory; if He did not allow them to see the contrast of a world without Him. And so, with great sorrow of heart He chose to endure the pain, ridicule, and sufferings by many in order that some would seek Him, reach out for Him, and find in Him their joy, their love, and be His children.
All too often, along this journey; I forget all that. All too often, my heart becomes so focused on me that I fail to grasp the depth of the blessings I have been given. There are times that my expectations as to who God is and what I believe His response should be falter. I get caught up at times in the narrative, “If God really loves me, He would ….” Or “If I try a little harder, maybe He would love me more and then my life would be free from trials.” Both are wrong!!
Truth is God Loves Me and it is that Love which even allows the painful moments in this life here. He is preparing me for an eternity with Him. Every step of my journey has been preparing my heart to know how to love Him and how to be filled with His Love. He is transforming this stony, self-exalting heart to really know the depth, the breadth and the height of His love toward me. Every cobblestone along this path and every thorny brier has been there that I might let go of so many foolish counterfeit joys in order that I might find true, steadfast and lasting joy in Him. Only when I realize that there is nothing inside of me deserving of Glory as I stumble and fall along this pathway, only then can I with awe watch as He takes all the shattered pieces of my best attempts and transforms them into beautiful portraits of His Glory.
So, what are those false expectations of God that cause us to grow weary in this world?
1. When we expect Him to reward our labor with counterfeit joys. When I give because I think He will give me earthly possessions in return, I don’t understand that He is the greater treasure I can have and I have lost focus of eternity.
2. When we think His love depends upon our performance. Whenever I think His love depends on my performance, I then am often in despair. If illness comes, I see it as punishment rather than an opportunity of grace or to display His glory to others. [bctt tweet=”If I think God’s love depends on performance, then, I don’t understand the truth of love at all.” username=”effiedarlene”]
3. When we measure God’s Goodness by the sorrows we see. If I become focused on the evil around me, I lose sight of the truth that God’s Grace is steadying His Hand while He awaits one more soul to find Him and to receive His gift of love. As perfect righteousness at any moment He could say, “Enough! Enough with rebellious, self-exalting evil seeking hearts!” Yet, each day that He waits is an act of grace, love and mercy for one more person to reach out to seek Him and choose an eternity of joy.
[bctt tweet=”So, do not grow weary dear pilgrim for God IS Good and God loves You.” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]God’s Grace Exceeds my Expectations or Comprehension of Him.[/tweetthis]
photo used by permission: https://unsplash.com/@gallarotti
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.