The Sustaining Love of God
by Beverly Hutchinson McNeff
When I was young, Easter was a big deal. We always got new outfits for church and mine always included a hat or bow for my hair. Everyone I knew celebrated Easter with baskets, bonnets and smiles.
Think about the people, though, who lived during the time of Jesus. He was their savior, and he had been killed. In their minds, their hopes had been killed as well. His disciples not only could not save him, they actually abandoned him. They were frightened that they might be killed too. They weren’t out shopping for Easter bonnets, and there wasn’t much to smile about.
You see, we know the end of the story. We know that there was nothing to fear. Death could not end love; the Son of God would arise in glory. But, the disciples and people of that time, however, did not have that awareness. It’s easy to not fear when you know the outcome, isn’t it?
What do you fear in your life? You already know the final outcome. You have been and forever will be sustained by the love of God. Now is the time to arise in glory and affirm this truth in the face of whatever is occurring. Life is not to be feared but lived, and lived fully.
Jesus told us to be of good cheer for he had overcome the world, and so can we. He was not just talking about the fact that death could not end life, but that no matter what fear befalls us, we can move through it to the truth.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me.” This is not just part of the 23rd psalm, but a statement of truth. The “shadows of death” are our fearful thoughts that make us feel alone, and yet we are never alone. God is here and with us now.
We may deny the truth and cower in fear, but that does not stop the fact that God is here and with us now. We know how the story turns out. The greatest threat of this world … death … was overcome by love. Do you not think, then, that love can overcome whatever is concerning you now?
Let us not dwell on the crucifixions in our lives but move on to the resurrection, the miracles that await us. You are sustained by the love of God. There is nothing to fear. So, put on your Easter bonnet and smile!
When I was young, Easter was a big deal. We always got new outfits for church and mine always included a hat or bow for my hair. Everyone I knew celebrated Easter with baskets, bonnets and smiles.
Think about the people, though, who lived during the time of Jesus. He was their savior, and he had been killed. In their minds, their hopes had been killed as well. His disciples not only could not save him, they actually abandoned him. They were frightened that they might be killed too. They weren’t out shopping for Easter bonnets, and there wasn’t much to smile about.
You see, we know the end of the story. We know that there was nothing to fear. Death could not end love; the Son of God would arise in glory. But, the disciples and people of that time, however, did not have that awareness. It’s easy to not fear when you know the outcome, isn’t it?
What do you fear in your life? You already know the final outcome. You have been and forever will be sustained by the love of God. Now is the time to arise in glory and affirm this truth in the face of whatever is occurring. Life is not to be feared but lived, and lived fully.
Jesus told us to be of good cheer for he had overcome the world, and so can we. He was not just talking about the fact that death could not end life, but that no matter what fear befalls us, we can move through it to the truth.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me.” This is not just part of the 23rd psalm, but a statement of truth. The “shadows of death” are our fearful thoughts that make us feel alone, and yet we are never alone. God is here and with us now.
We may deny the truth and cower in fear, but that does not stop the fact that God is here and with us now. We know how the story turns out. The greatest threat of this world … death … was overcome by love. Do you not think, then, that love can overcome whatever is concerning you now?
Let us not dwell on the crucifixions in our lives but move on to the resurrection, the miracles that await us. You are sustained by the love of God. There is nothing to fear. So, put on your Easter bonnet and smile!
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