In any given day, it seems, I encounter people from many different walks of life who are struggling with problems. These problems stem from so many sources in this broken world, including but not limited to illness, economic difficulties, relational hurts and impasses, and even the results of prior poor choices, as well as decisions and patterns of choosing and living.
I have encountered my own litany of difficulties in my own life, from the merely frustrating, to the truly soul shaking challenges that inevitably arise. People say that they sense a peace and a calm joy in me that too often engenders a statement such as, "it must be nice for you to have a life without real problems!" Or, at times more appropriately, "What is your secret to staying so positive, being able to brighten up the rest of us every day even when I know you have your own issues to deal with?" My answer usually involves making sure they understand that I do have my own set of problems and challenges to deal with, that I have no magic shield around me to keep me from feeling the effects of this broken world, including the brokenness within me.
But I am learning to be more honest about letting people know the source of the peace that I am able to carry inside, to the degree I have been able to do that. This peace truly involves choosing to learn and practice living by faith. I am just one of many Christians in this world, and my hope is that each of them is learning to live a life of faith, a life of believing, in a very real way, in a very real person whose love for each of us can shield us from a life of fear and shallowness, and transform us into the persons we were truly designed to be. Of course we still have hurt and loss, and pain and fear -- but these things no longer "own us"! We are still in this very broken world, but we are no longer simply "of this word". And even as we long for and believe in the coming ultimate Devine restoration of this tragic world, we, by the faith gift of choice -- "Choosing who we will serve" -- can begin even now to live lives that transcend our pain and loss and fear.
As we learn to trust in the love and ultimate total goodness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Who will never leave us, or forsake us, and Whose love for us "covers a multitude of sins", we will undergo a transformation that will allow us to pass on that supernatural love and forgiveness to our fellow strugglers. The blunt truth is, only the love and forgiveness of Heaven can see us through the darkest times in life, can truly see us through anything -- everything!
The life and death and resurrection of God's only Son are the gifts of victory He longs to share with us -- the supernatural gifts He wants desperately to pour out to you and to me. His priceless gifts are meant to set you free, free to live the life you were designed to live, becoming more and more like the amazing brilliant beautiful One in whose image you were made.
Safe in His love, there is no more condemnation; there is only the newly awakened desire to live life fully and unafraid, with purpose and meaning, living a life dominated by the peace of Heaven that goes far beyond our merely human understanding. We are no longer held captive by our enemy's fundamental and tragically evil flaw -- the obsession with self. We are now free to serve, free to care, free to love -- without any expectation of return, but knowing that this inspired life of love is the only thing that can change us, the only thing that will ultimately change hearts, and finally, change the world.
God bless you as you "fight the good fight of faith", to believe in the saving, transforming power of God's love in, and then through us.
With Heaven's love to all,
Ricky Lee Jackson
