Stupid Deep

"He met me where I was."

I SAW A church sign that said, “Faith is not meant to be easy,” and I kept driving, I had to be somewhere, but what I said to myself was, “Yes, it is.” We have made an ordeal out of believing and created an obstacle out of faith when it is simply a word expressing our trust in the love of God. That’s it. We’ve also made an ordeal out of being led by the Spirit. He’s become cryptic and forever tossing symbols around that we can’t interpret. When what I need is “turn left” and not a rod, a lantern, and the word “shaken.” He actually speaks in sentences. Just read the conversation with Moses in Exodus. He is the reason our faith works so well and is so simple. Him and Jesus and our loving Father.

I don’t know why the church wants an Olympic foot race, complete with hurdles and the long pole jump. I mean, someone approaches the minister and cries out, “God’s not listening!” and instead of, “Yes, He is. He loves you,” they get a speech about their unbelief. Teach BELIEF, O man of God, and not UNBELIEF. Teach the LOVE of the Savior, who died for them. Teach MERCY.

Stop condemning them.

I’m your example why all the things you teach about lack of faith are wrong. I found myself sick, nigh unto death, unexpectedly. It was medically uncurable. I didn’t know what happened to me to put me there. I knew God would get me out. It’s been an l-o-n-g road, but when I cried out to Him, He heard me. He answered, and He healed me of all of it. I didn’t have to debate doctrine first, nor grow in faith, nor reach some particular height of holiness. I cried, I cursed, I became depressed, I heard the devil speak clearly, I raged and swung my fist at heaven. God covered me with His love and said, “It will be okay.” It didn’t get okay, not right away. I was stupidly confused and said all the wrong things.

I got BAD CHURCH ADVICE. So bad I laughed and said to God, “You want me to rely on you, don’t you?” And that was that. He met me where I was, and that is what people need to know.

I don’t even want to be in the ministry now. The closer I get to Jesus, the more I hear the Father speaking, the more I want THEM and people to know THEM and not who I am and what I’ve accomplished. Being honest, college degrees and ordination certificates are great. I’m so happy for those who earn them. But without knowing God’s love, you will say the wrong thing and people will give up. I’ve seen that, too. Heaven is grand and amazing and beautiful. I saw a corner of it in a vision. I’ve laid in the midst of the love of God, so wide and deep. I’ve felt the peace of God on a scale many haven’t.

We’re too busy criticizing each other and using doctrine like fiery darts while yanking away that person’s shield of faith. No, how about you get behind it instead, and hold it up. You believe on their behalf. Use your faith and stop saying you don’t have enough. If you don’t, then be sure you’re filled with the Spirit when you stand behind the pulpit because His love, love that would die for us, knowing only He could do it, is why you are called in the first place. And He said not one word against people. He didn’t plea to skip the pain. That’s wrong information. He pleaded to not condemn Judas.

READ “The Cup.”

God loves the man who betrayed Him. You should understand that. Jesus Christ was mocked and laughed at on behalf of the people who were doing the laughing. He rose from the dead without an audience, without trumpet blasts and a choir. He poured out the Spirit upon man not asking how much faith they had.

HE IS THE MEASURE OF FAITH, and each person who believes in His death and Resurrection has all of Him (Romans 12:3). We have all of Him, and He meant for faith to be easy like breathing, like loving the One who gave His all to you, despite what it cost Him in the flesh, and because of who He is in the Spirit. We don’t have to rely on ourselves. That’s His point. We simply refuse to look away from the beauty of His face, and in case what we see, at first, looks like darkness, we keep looking, keep calling. We refuse to give up.

And He will answer.

LISTEN TO Molly McManus sing “Stupid Deep/Blu.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Image by Dtzradd Oujwr from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com