Hope Without Limits

Easter feels so new to me this year as I journey this new road of connection over “getting it right”.

Where to begin … how about the middle?  In the middle of both physical and emotional pain this week my prayer was “God how can I help myself?”

Not too surprising that what I thought that answer should look like (me getting it right so I would be able to function and perform for those around me ) and what it did look like (even deeper connection with Abba and rest) were two very different things 🙂 .

My answer was revelation that what can be a very good thing … my ability to see the pain in people’s lives and connect with them in that pain … had been manipulated by the enemy.  How much?  So much that unconsciously the majority of my connections with others is via their pain.  Houston we have a problem 😉 .

Our enemy is not called the father of lies (John 8:44) for no reason.  He will provide an upside to whatever lie/distortion with which he is manipulating you.  In my case, the upside is people really appreciate you when you see their pain and connect with them.  The downside is when you carry that pain around with you because you believe the only reason they do like/connect with you is to help them with their pain.  Again, being very transparent here.

I can honestly say I was stunned when I heard Abba tell me on the anniversary this week of a painful experience for both people I love and myself : “You have to let go of carrying this pain.  It’s not the only thing that connects you.  There is so much more.”  Say what?

I have lived passionately from my grid which had been it is a noble thing to continue to carry this (or anyone’s) pain.  It was honoring, respectful, loyal … and bottom line … my past experience was it got me loved for “being there” .  What Abba was showing me was it was also exhausting, depleting, and did not let anyone move forward with what Jesus came to give us … life and life abundantly. (John 10:10)

I had to check this out.  Any idea what I discovered?  With no mention to honor past pain, I was still warmly received when I reached out to connect this week.  We were able to share in the joy of simply being together without it being colored by the pain of the past.  Such a deal!!

All the pieces of this new paradigm are not yet in place for me.  But this Easter morning as I sat in church it was no coincidence that I was reminded by our pastor that God’s original intent for us has always been to live under a canopy of love and intimate relationship with Him free from death and the fear and sickness death encompasses.  From Adam to Jesus, God was putting in place His plan to restore living under a canopy of love and intimate relationship.  That is the gift of Easter.  Friendship with the Creator of All over function to “get it right”.  Out of intimate friendship will flow the guidance of how to live.  Just like Adam and Eve before the fall we can be absolutely naked before our Creator with no shame, completely known, completely loved.  How can I say that?

Romans 8:1 – The Passion Translation

So now the case is closed.
There remains no accusing voice of condemnation
against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus,
the Anointed One.

Romans 5:1 – The Passion Translation

Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us
and he now declares us flawless in his eyes.
This means we can now enjoy
true and lasting peace with God,
all because of what our Lord Jesus,
the Anointed One, has done for us.
Our faith guarantees us access
into this marvelous kindness
that has given us a perfect relationship with God.
What incredible joy bursts forth within us
as we keep on celebrating our hope
of experiencing God’s glory!

My prayer is that whatever lie or distortion is separating you from the love of the best friend you can or will ever have would be destroyed by the light that cannot be quenched by any darkness (John 1:4-5) and the truth (John 14:6) both of which just happen to be Jesus, Himself.  May you live from a place of intimate friendship with Jesus, our Heavenly Father and Holy Spirit that both fills you and flows out of you (Romans 15:13) as you interact with those in your life!