Merry Christmas everyone!
I want to apologize for not posting lately. The last few weeks of the semester were brutal, and it got to the point where I simply didn't have energy to plan for and write a blog post, even if I had time. Thankfully, I finished the semester and survived with plenty to think about.
I couldn't begin to list all the ways God has provided for me this semester, not only in school but at work and at church and at home. He has given to me abundantly, far more than I could have imagined to ask. But probably the biggest way He blessed me was through my family.
Between working most of the day and taking night classes three times a week, I was almost never home. I missed a lot of time with them, and often the only time we could connect was when I was recharging over the weekend, and even then I had mountains of homework to do.
The wonderful part is that, even though I was pretty absent all semester, my family still loves me. The fact that I didn't have much time to catch up didn't take away from our relationship. Even on weeks when I was only home to eat, shower, and sleep before tackling the next day, they didn't treat me as though I was just taking advantage of their food and hot water; they gave them to me because I'm part of the family. And through the whole semester, as I worked hard for good grades, they assured me that they would love me no matter the results.
The reason I bring this up is because my parents were a model of God to me this semester. No, they aren't perfect, but they have given me a glimpse of what God's love for me is like.
Some days, devotion time just doesn't happen. It's a nonstop day from when your alarm goes off until when you set it for the next morning, and the only interaction you have with God is asking for something. I'm not saying this is how it should be...but it happens. And on those days, we often feel guilty because we know that we're supposed to spend time with God. But here's the truth: God desires to spend time with us because He loves us, but He won't stop loving you because you fail to spend time with Him. He knows you're weak, and He loves you anyway. Give Him your time, not out of obligation, but out of overflowing gratitude and love. And even if you have a dry spell, remember that He'll be right there when you come back.
On top of being busy, we're also very needy. Aside from the regular needs, like oxygen, that God supplies us continuously, we need a lot of things: strength to get through a rough day or peace to ride out life's next storm, or a new job or relationship. Sometimes I look at all my blessings, all the ways God has answered prayers I didn't even make time to pray, and I wonder when He's going to get tired of blessing me. But then I realize that if my parents, who are human, could give me food and shelter and love (and occasionally chocolate) without asking anything in return, then a perfect and holy God could too...not because of anything I have to offer, but because He loves me.
And I don't have anything to offer. I am human, and as such, I am prone to failure. If God's love was based on my performance, He would have left me a long time ago. Thanks be to God that it is not! His love, like His grace, is offered freely, with no contingencies, no strings attached. If only we could remember this, we would be free to spend our lives glorifying Him and spreading His kingdom, instead of always stressing about being perfect. I spend so much time worrying that I'm going to disappoint God; but He will never be so disappointed in me that He'll give up on me.
I guess that's what I've learned this past semester: Even when you've done nothing to deserve it, God cares for you and blesses you beyond your imagination, because He loves you. If you've been anxious about whether He still loves you after all the ways you've failed, let me assure you: He does.
How can I be so sure?
We were rebels and criminals and every kind of horrible when God looked at us and decided that He wanted to make us part of His family. If He could love us at our worst enough to send His only Son to take our punishment so we could become His children, then you can never do something that can separate you from His love. (Romans 5:8, Romans 8:38-39)
This Christmas season, stop trying to earn God's love and start basking in His Presence. Because that's what Christmas is about: God coming to Earth to demonstrate His love for us.
