Meditation Monday, August 9, 2021

By Sharon Ross, Minister of Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Director, and Assistant to the Senior Pastor

Do you really believe that Jesus loves you? Do you really love God with all your heart, soul, and mind? If you are a Christian, you might feel pressured to answer this question with a resounding “Yes,” especially if you are asked that while in a small group at church. I mean, who would not want to say they live a life that is nourished by a strong love of God? It sure beats a life that is ruled by the dictates of work and culture, even though they are important, and it sounds oh, so spiritual!

What happens when you have answered the question above with a white lie? “Of course,” you say. But what if deep down in your heart you have doubts about whether following Jesus makes sense? What if it really sounds unrealistic to you to be totally and absolutely anchored in Christ? What if you regularly cut yourself off from others and don’t own your doubts and fears about The Faith to anyone? In simple terms, the answer is that you are likely putting yourself in spiritual danger.

Good News: the painful questions and problems of the heart, when endured humbly and shared honestly, can give our souls a wonderful sense of clarity of God’s gracious presence in all of life. Yes, God guides his children along strange paths. The path of pain is a strange path – but it is a holy path, nonetheless. It is good to remember, our Lord himself walked it.

Prayer

Father, please give courage to those who are lost in painful questions to share their true selves with someone who will listen and love them without judgement. Amen.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the dross, disregarding the shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2, The Holy Bible