Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!  Psalm 90:1

Why do we sell our souls to get the love we want?  Why would we consider prostrating ourselves, promising things we have no right promising, all for the prospect of someone’s affection?  As we speak, you may be caring for a parent and realizing the window of time is short for getting the love you’ve always craved.  If only you could figure out how to turn their hearts toward you.

These longings aren’t wrong.  We were made to belong, to be under the care of someone trustworthy.  We dream of sitting in their shade, satiated and content.  People may give us a taste of it but God promises to fully satisfy the longing.  He encourages us to lose our lives because He knows that if we willingly give them up to Him, we will find real love, real life.  And, there’s a bonus ~ if we abdicate our right to a self-proclaimed identity and blend into Jesus, we’ll find that our true selves emerge.

All this goes against the grain of our pride.  We don’t want to need anyone that badly.  It seems pathetic to a strong ego.  But there is a barrier that eclipses even pride.  It is fear.  I’m afraid that if I open up my heart completely and He rejects me, it will be unbearable.  To play it safe, I seal away my heart in order to protect it.  I use the pretense of religion to hide behind, but God wants my heart.  He’s constantly calling my name to come closer.  Proximity is safe, not dangerous.

Every single person alive, no matter their history, can go running home, even limping home, with confidence.

It takes years, Lord, but help us not be afraid anymore.  Amen