You don’t have to be afraid. You need not be afraid of
anything or anyone here on earth, but only the One in heaven who keeps your
soul in perfect Love. You don’t have to be fearful of people or their stuff or poor opinions.
You don’t have to be afraid to love messy and unstable people, who may curse
you, hurt you, use you, or attempt to manipulate or steal, even kill you. In
fact, don’t fear them at all but rather; love them, serve them and do well by
them because you need them to work deep meekness and humility in your life.
If disappointments, betrayals, and trauma were always side-stepped, you would
be a very anemic, inept believer whom would know not of the greater graces in
this life. If you never had somebody tell lies about you, or think the worst of
you, or bring great loss to you then you would never know the richness of what
it means to forgive and bless them as Jesus did while on the cross. You would
not have the honor of bestowing upon another, what God has bestowed upon you
while even still in your unrepentant enemy-of-God state. You know it is better
to give than to receive. You know the blessedness of forgiveness; what it means
to have your debt erased and your crimson stain removed. It is joy unspeakable
to be free, to be clean, in every way and in every part. And yet, the Word of
God says it is more blessed to give than to receive. You are more blessed to
give forgiveness, seventy times seven times, than to receive it seventy times
seven times. You are more enriched in this life the more you lose, suffer loss.
You are credited righteousness every time you choose faith over fear, love over
offense and healing over harming. Let the radiant love of Jesus shine in every
dark part of your heart. Let it drive out the fear and suspicion for they serve
to divide and drive out love. If you choose to honor all others above yourself, God
will be honored. If you choose to offer the other cheek for another strike, you
are choosing deeper faith in a greater God to keep you, to restore all that man
would require of you. If you lay down your life only to be trampled upon, it can
never be taken from you. Wisdom will always prove itself and meekness will bear
no regret. If ever you feel the temptation to fight for your rights, cling to
Jesus, the One who justifies men before God. If ever you feel the finger of men
pointed at you in accusation, do not defend yourself. Just love, believe the best
always, do not pose any pretense but stay tender and teachable, always. Consider
yourself no greater than another, offer yourself as a servant of all,
especially those who have done you harm. Love wins. It cannot be injured, it
cannot be conquered, and it cannot be trumped. It is the remedy for all things.
“Who would ever know the greater graces of comfort and
perserverance, mercy and forgiveness, patience and courage, if no shadows fell
over a life?” ― Ann Voskamp
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