Today is a beautiful day on the island in the way that only Vancouver Island can be. The sun is shining, and the sky is blue. Birds are out, deer are everywhere, and creation is just screaming the glory of it's maker. What a beautiful world that I live in.
The last few days have been wonderful. I have amazing friends who love me in just the right way. I have wonderful coworkers that are able to look past our differences and help me in a time of need. I have great friends full of wisdom when I have a situation I feel out of my depth in. I have an unshakable hope in the future.
Today I have been spending a lot of time looking back to this time last year and where I was emotionally and spiritually.
A year ago I was really confused. I was looking for answers and explanations to the pain I had gone through in the past. I was being pulled two ways. One way by God and the love and acceptance that he showed me, and the other by a group of people that I craved acceptance from.
A year ago I was debating whether or not I was going to go to the Easter sermon at a nearby church with friends. I was confused as to whether or not I wanted to be a christian anymore. I was lost and tired of all the fighting.
A year ago I was waiting to hear back from Camp Qwanoes about whether or not I got the job.
A year ago I was praying that if God was real and if he could hear me and if he cared for me, that he would give me an out to the confusing life I was in. I was praying I would get a yes from Qwanoes.
A year ago I went to that Easter church service. I sat there wondering what in the world was going on. Why was I feeling so much pain. Why were past wounds being brought back up to be inspected? Why was this happening when being a christian was supposed to be easier?
This past Sunday at the church that I now attend (New Life Community Baptist in Duncan BC) our pastor was talking about just those things. Why does pain exist? Why does God let it? And to be honest, he really didn't answer that question in the short time he had to talk about it. He said that that is part of our next sermon series. But he did say a few things that stuck out to me.
He talked about the fact that we have been made blameless for all of our sins. We have been washed clean by the blood of Christ who was blameless and took on all the blame.
He talked about how the devil is clever and scheming. He talked about how it is only through God that we are able to turn away and that to do so we need to never give up and pray. We need to be faithful and pray. We need to seek wisdom and pray. We need to pray, pray, pray.
What a powerful message. The answer to most of our problems is found through praying. Not because praying is some special voodoo type magic, but because God, as the Holy Father, wants us to be in relationship with us. He wants us to ask for help. He delights in us turning to him. Just as a father on earth delights in his son asking him to help him work on his car.
What an amazing God we have! We have a God willing to take all of our blame away at the price of himself, we have a God that is so loving that he is with us always, we have a God who wants nothing more to be in close and perfect relationship with each one of us.
What is pain then? Pain is separation between us and God. How do we get rid of that? We seek God more and ask him to take that separation away. Who is the only person that can break through the barrier of sin and take away that separation God. So what is the answer? God.
So what is separating you from God today? Is it family problems? How about unrequited love? Money issues? Depression? Addiction? Any number of things out there are reasons that could separate us from the perfect love that is offered to us. Yet, none of them have to. Reach out to God today. Reach out to his holy and perfect love and grace.
Reach out. He will meet you more than halfway.
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