The Calming Thunder

THROUGH OTHERS

There is a concept that I have been throwing around inside my head that I want to write about in hopes that it makes sense. It is about how we feel about God’s love for us individually. I do not think this brief essay covers the entire subject by any means, but I do think it is something worth pondering for the truth it contains.

I would assume that most people are like me, that we all struggle to some degree with truly knowing and feeling God’s extravagant love for us. We seem quite able to tell others about God’s love for them, but have a hard time realizing it for ourselves. That seems to be natural since we all know our own baggage and weakness, hence we feel unlovable.

Of course, theologically and intellectually we may give mental assent to His great love for us. However, inside we wish we knew His love more for ourselves. Ironically, the very people whom we tell of God’s love for them struggle themselves with feeling unlovable. So, we are all in the same boat. But, we still tell others and feel for others that God’s love is showered upon them, in spite of their imperfections. All the while, we still feel God’s unconditional and radical love is nevertheless somewhat less for us. We are an odd lot, we humans.

After saying all that, I want to get to the point of this chapter. I think one major way that God expresses His love towards us is through others. I am involved in a fantastic home group that loves each other. We all affirm, enjoy, and accept each other in Jesus’ Name. We are all very loved by all in the group. Is that not God Himself loving each individual in the group through the others? If we are so affirmed, enjoyed, and accepted by other believers then how can we be so insecure about God’s love for us individually? I mean, God is loving each individual through the others.

One problem is that we are so individualistic and focus too much on our own personal imperfections and feelings of unworthiness—as if the world revolves around each one of us alone. As believers, it is more about who we are in relation to the Body of Christ. We are each a part of His renewed people. Yes, God sees us as individual people, but I think more so He sees us as who we are as a member of His redeemed community.

Indeed, as we are beating ourselves up because we do not like ourselves for whatever reason, God is trying to tell us that He loves us and accepts us. He is telling us that through other believers. And frankly, we need to listen.

So, as I sat there tonight amidst our group, I felt loved by God. Not because I was any more perfect than I was yesterday, but because I came to realize that as I sat amongst these people of God who loved me, that God loved me. He was expressing His love for me through the others. With that understanding, a lot of my personal insecurities and feelings of not being really loved by God just slipped away. I knew that I was loved by God because I saw it through His people who love me. I simply need to let my insecurities quit winning the day and rest in my God’s love demonstrated through His people.

I honestly believe that, because we (our group) are two or three gathered in Jesus’ Name and surrounded by the Holy Spirit. God, forgive me for doubting You. Thank You for Your boundless love for me. Thank You for giving me a wonderful group of believers that remind me of that love.