One of my biggest prayers over the last few years has been for God to give me love for others. I wanted to be a vessel pouring out His love to people. As time has passed, I think He really has increased my love for others. I'm not "there" yet, but the difference so far is quite amazing. But when I prayed I didn't fully realize the results of my prayer. Love means that I hurt for people who are suffering.
I can't even explain how depressed I've been during the last week or two - not in the sense of giving up on life or anything, but just over so many situations that I can't change. I realize that God is the only one who can change hearts and circumstances. I know that love is the only appropriate response and that my pride/self-righteousness tend to get in the way of an appropriate response. But still I feel some of the pain these people are experiencing; I see them hurting themselves. And I really want to cry.
Why is love painful?
As I thought about this tonight, though, I was reminded of John 3:16 - that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Can you imagine greater suffering? Christ chose to suffer pain on our behalf. I guess you might say that love has a price tag.
While I was driving home from a full day of hearing how various people were hurting, I thought about some of the situations I see in my own personal life as well as where I had been that involve parent-child conflict. I thought about the roughness of the teen years. And then I thought, "Why in the world do I still want to have kids?!" And then it hit me: Because it's worthwhile. What else in all the world can have a longer-lasting impact than raising up future generations?
And the link to love...haha...my thoughts are rather jumbled up here. But the link to love is that the price is worth it. Maybe it's not pleasant, but there's a greater purpose. God has a plan. His love overarches all things, even our suffering - which really is temporary. The cost of love may be great but the rewards are greater.
Now I just need to spend some time talking with God and reading His Word...for strength to continue, because right now I'm feeling...very empty, in a way.
I can't even explain how depressed I've been during the last week or two - not in the sense of giving up on life or anything, but just over so many situations that I can't change. I realize that God is the only one who can change hearts and circumstances. I know that love is the only appropriate response and that my pride/self-righteousness tend to get in the way of an appropriate response. But still I feel some of the pain these people are experiencing; I see them hurting themselves. And I really want to cry.
Why is love painful?
As I thought about this tonight, though, I was reminded of John 3:16 - that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Can you imagine greater suffering? Christ chose to suffer pain on our behalf. I guess you might say that love has a price tag.
While I was driving home from a full day of hearing how various people were hurting, I thought about some of the situations I see in my own personal life as well as where I had been that involve parent-child conflict. I thought about the roughness of the teen years. And then I thought, "Why in the world do I still want to have kids?!" And then it hit me: Because it's worthwhile. What else in all the world can have a longer-lasting impact than raising up future generations?
And the link to love...haha...my thoughts are rather jumbled up here. But the link to love is that the price is worth it. Maybe it's not pleasant, but there's a greater purpose. God has a plan. His love overarches all things, even our suffering - which really is temporary. The cost of love may be great but the rewards are greater.
Now I just need to spend some time talking with God and reading His Word...for strength to continue, because right now I'm feeling...very empty, in a way.