different perspective

on those trials we face.

{from the archives}

Isaiah 55:8

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

 neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.   

I read the evotion from Christian Womanhood yesterday and could not get away from this thought. So, I will share it in my own words (the actual content is copyrighted).

Do you ever just grab your child and give him or her a bear hug? You know. One of those 'squeeze so hard 'til they squirm' hugs that are usually reciprocated with 'aw, Mom, please let go!' 

As mothers, we enjoy having our children in our arms - this particular squeeze is often more of a pouring out of our intense-mother-love feelings. Children, when faced with these embraces, find them restricting and annoying. They just want to be free to continue their play. 

These hugs don't last long to us, but to our children they may seem to go on f.o.r.e.v.e.r. They want to feel our love through sitting down to read a book or getting a new toy. We want them to feel our love in the {sometimes breathtaking} embrace of our hugs.

What if the trials that grow us (not the chastisement that comes when needed) are God's BEAR HUGS? God's ways are so far above ours. We feel His love when we look around us and see physical things. a house. a loving husband. sleeping children. a car. But God is not materialistic. He wants to know we need Him {really,  He wants US to know we need Him}... this is how He feels our love. And He feels our love when we cry out to Him during times of growing trials.

And, just as our children eventually {hopefully} learn to just be still and 'take it' when we grab them, may we learn to be still and know that He is God. No matter what is going on, He loves us. And the times of God's bear hugs are not really as long as they seem when we're in them.

Psalm 46:10a, Be still, and know that I am God.

{previously posted on September 28, 2010}