The shape of God's love

I wrote this the other day for a friend who's really going through it. But, of course!, it's something I needed to hear as well. And I thought maybe you might too. So here's my prayer for you today:

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to know how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

            Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

 This is my prayer for you this morning.

            That God may strengthen you with his power through his Spirit. That when you come to the end of your own resources, strength, and ability, that God’s Spirit is right there, filling you with his power that surpasses anything you could do on your own.

            That your faith continues to grow roots and be firmly established as you hold tightly to him for life. That as new things cause you to shake, that your faith goes ever deeper.

            That you may know the shape of God’s love for you.

            It’s kind of weird to think of God’s love having shape, having dimension. But it makes sense too. Our understanding of his love goes high when we’re filled with praise, when we’re convinced of his goodness, when we feel the joy of knowing him.

            And our understanding of his love goes deep when we’re filled with doubt, anxiety, and worry. When we question his purposes for us and wonder if his plans really are good. If God really does hear our prayers. If God really does care. If God is ever going to come to our rescue. As we sink into the pit, his love goes deeper. Even in the pit of despair, we are never alone.

            And our understanding of God’s love grows wide as we stretch out our arms to accept what he offers. When we pick up our cross and follow through suffering, when our knowledge of him grows past our limits.

            And it grows long when we seek to understand and accept his love day after day after day. It grows long as we persevere in the midst of sorrow and heartache and pain. As we keep our eyes fixed on the hope of heaven, where there will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more pain.

            This kind of understanding only comes by experience. And it pushes higher and longer and wider and deeper as we live our lives and move with this God whose love has no limit, whose love is immeasurably higher, longer, wider, and deeper than we can imagine.

            As God’s love stretches and its dimensions grow, we are the ones who feel the pains of its growth. It hurts.

            My sweet sister, I love you so much. I see God at work in you through your suffering. I wish it wasn’t happening, that I could carry some of your sorrow. And yet, God is being glorified in you. You are representing him well in the midst of it. Keep holding on.

Comments

[MooBeeMa]

WOW! That letter touched me deeply. Even though it wasn't meant for me, the truths set forth in it were especially for me. Thank you! I will pass it along.

[ginger]

So many beautiful images to ponder...
Thank you, Joanne, for sharing.

[Ben Stroup]

Thomas Cranmer would be proud. I can't imagine anyone who would not be encouraged by this letter. If you had written it to me, I would have printed it out and placed it within my Daily Office Book to substitute as a Collect from time to time.

You are a good friend.

[chapmanchick]

How very beautiful and very needed this morning. Thank you for sharing this!

[elaine @ peace for the journey]

How we need the prayers of friends and the continual strengthening of our Lord. I used the same Scripture in my vlog today. What a privilege it is to live in the body of Christ and to carry the burden of others; they have certainly carried my load in seasons past.

Blessings to you this Mother's Day and in the weeks to come. Sounds like you're headed for an adventure.

peace~elaine

[Lura]

Thanks! As I sit here in tears, I know that I needed that today. I needed to be reminded that when I get to the end of my "resources, strenghths, and abilities" (which are so so small), God's are there to carry me through! Thank you for your blog and for being so transparent!