God
This is the guy who had a conversation with perpetual nothingness and seven days later there was a world to speak of. He’s the same guy who despite all his power and glory knocks at the door of your heart daily waiting for your answer. The guy who calls your burdens to His feet so He can give you rest. The eagle whose wings you can hide under, the potter whose unique hands are the only thing that can mould you, the protector who rebukes your troubles even those of your own making.
There is a whole book that can be said about His goodness. All the characteristics that will cause Him to do exceedingly, abundantly above your and my expectations.Tell me somebody, just who do you think you are to hinder God? I don’t mean to phrase it so unapologetically but seriously who do we think we are though? Because we spend years wallowing in self pity, always needing to check with ourselves first if this is really God and then falling further into depression when we realise that we don’t think we deserve His Grace and punishment should be our portion instead.
It’s this thinking that God is somehow limited that allows us to attend endless hours of deliverance session with spruced up modern day witch doctors who dramatise the atmosphere to paralyse us in fear. Who are we to doubt God?..Is there a centimetre of life we have managed to add to ours by worrying if He is really for us? Is there a single thing we can do right now to extend our lungs ‘ ability to draw air into them and exhale to keep us alive? Is there anything we can do to separate Him from loving us? No there isn’t so I need somebody to pick themself up right now and stop hiding behind their inadequacies.
The reason
For the longest time I have fought discouraged because I just struggled to believe that my efforts would amount to anything given my track record. I had more faith in my failure than faith in God’s eternal success and his heart towards us. Sometimes you can get so stuck on where you’ve been that it becomes an anchor firmly holding you back from where you can go.
I just wanted to bring it your attention today that there is absolutely nowhere in the bible where it confirms “so you’ve been lost ey?..well shem (shame) that’s the end of the road for you, Loser..just take whatever scraps fall off the table from heaven because God doesn’t deal with damaged goods like you, just don’t even try to do better because we all know how sinful you really are”.
It took me a long while to realise that the bible is fuller of salvation than the condemnation we have come to associate with it. I remember this conversation I had with Auntie Tendai where she had patiently listened to me confide all the doom and gloom that was lurking in my mind about how I was trying but likely not going to make it because of all I had done.
While I guiltily anticipated her agreement and confirmation that I was doomed she simply cut me short and said “..Sister Sharon, do you know why you are going to make it? Because you are making the effort to try, you admit when you have done wrong and you keep seeking the presence of God” (paraphrase). My perspective changed that day and it was because for the first time in a long time this was a person who didn’t confirm the doom that could easily have become my reality.
This was someone who shared her own story and reminded me that it was God who had begun a good work in me and that He would simply bring it into completion because of who He is not because of what He’s working with. She reminded me that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by God and though at the time I thought to myself God cannot possibly direct these feet I now see what she meant.
If God didn’t deal with damaged goods there would be no gospel to speak of. The Pauls and the Moses’ and the Esthers would never have touched our lives the way they do all these thousands of years later. If God didn’t heal damaged goods then I would never write to you every week to share what I have learnt of Him and wish you all of His love and peace.
We are gonna make it !!
Because God is still in control, it’s as simple as that.
My prayer today is God help us to be simple, to put down what we think we know about you and about the mysteries of life. Take us by the hand and lead us to the still waters that only exist in a life with you, lead us to the lush meadows that you have always desired for us to enjoy. Fill our cups with hope and anticipation for brighter days and Father remind our hearts to smile, to be filled with compassion for ourselves first and then our brothers..most of all Father teach us to let go and let you…Amen
