A New Foundation

Dear Sister,

It’s taken me many years to discover some things about my rich spiritual history and birthright.  Until I embraced it as mine, my life’s ‘house’ was constructed with some destitute building materials. Because I had not seized the meaning of my spiritual adoption and understood the full ramifications of God’s radical love for me, I worked for His approval.  I labored too long in a travail that took its toll. It was self-abusive.  I’m learning about my Father’s level of grief over the ways I suffered needlessly.  I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve not known much about His grace. Living the ‘victorious Christian life’ meant “impeccable performance”.  Now, I know it means, “living life loved”.

The kindest thing my Father has done in recent years has been to give me the choice to cooperate with Him in the dismantling of my impressive looking, but diseased internal world. It’s been painful to examine it all in the disassembly.  I discovered what was missing.  I did not know that I could build my life on the Father’s foundation of love, security, and the joy of obedience. Instead, my life’s foundation was built on sheer grit, framed with impossible expectations, and nailed together with anger and loneliness.

He cheers us on as we grow in stature as His Daughters of Promise.  He delights to see us discover the truths He knows will bring freedom.  I see Him rubbing His hands in anticipation when it looks like we are about to discover another secret of His heart. I am moved by the thought of giving my Father joy as I discover all He has for me.  This journey of life-changing discovery is captured in the following story.  A girl in ashes is re-born, re-shaped and re-generated. She emerges with a confidence born of her newfound identity.  For each of us that embark on this journey with her, I say most assuredly, the best is ahead!