Today I started to think about Jesus being “The Savior of the World” and what it must have been like to walk with Him…and then this question came to mind…
Why is it so hard for us to see someone’s love while we’re in the middle of it? Isn’t it true that we seem to see it more clearly from the other side, looking back on it?
Let’s take a look at the disciples. Jesus loved them, He chose them. But with His love came discipline, correction and challenges. He set the bar high.
Did they see it? His Love? Really see it? Or was their sight clouded by what they wanted Him to be, who they thought He should be or maybe who they thought they should be with Him?? Was it only when they looked back on Him and His time with them that they saw how much He really loved them?
As I was thinking about this I started to think about my relationship with my mom. During my teens I rebelled. Every part of me demanded “I know what’s best for me!” I was convinced that my mother was old and she couldn’t possibly know what I was going through. It’s funny how at 16 years old I thought I had the wisdom of a 40 year old. Everything she said seemed controlling, unreasonable and well simply put, ridiculous!
But in her (God given) wisdom she knew her job was to lovingly teach me, correct me, discipline me and challenge me to grow. I knew she loved me but I could not see the depth of her love until I saw it from the other side. When I look back it seems as if it took 20 years to get there!
Then I thought about Jesus. When we see stories of His time here, we see His love, His blood shed, His ultimate sacrifice. But I believe we are able to see it so clearly because we are looking back. I wonder if we would have seen it in the same way if we were there with Him. I mean, don't we struggle with seeing Him during our trials here and now. During the storms of life don’t we question whether or not He’s there with us or if He truly loves us? Then when the storms pass we figure out not only is His love never ending, but He never took His eyes off of us.
I'm learning that through the trials of life He is molding me and teaching me how to be the person He intended me to be.
I pray that I not only see love in hindsight, but I see it in spite of myself and my stubbornness. That I learn more and more each day how to love like He does. And in seeking Him I pray that He teaches me how to love BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER the lessons I am called to learn. And that He affords me the grace of endurance at those times that I am called to be the teacher.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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