How Can He Love Me?

How can He (Jesus Christ) love me?  It seems a simple question which holds a simple answer…He died for me.  We as Christians are trained and equipped to tell the world of God’s marvelous love in that He sent His son to die on a cross for us, save us and give us eternal life.  In fact, one of the first verses that we are taught to memorize as children is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.  This verse is used to negate any debate or question denying God’s love for us.  It is fired off like rounds of ammo to dispel any doubts that may exist in the minds of the saved or unsaved.  Despite its power and truth, many cannot fathom, much less comprehend this.  To be honest, I still find that I awake to days that I struggle with this same questions; how can a God so magnificent, a Savior so pure and a Holy Spirit so gentle love Beth?

It is this very question and debate in my mind that I awoke to a few days ago and that I have struggled with most of my life.  Do I doubt the existence of the Almighty God?  Absolutely not!  I believe in Him more today than I ever have.  Do I know that He loves me?  Emphatically, I can say yes!  I know without a doubt that He loves me.  Then what is the problem?  The problem is that I cannot comprehend this at times.  It doesn’t mean that I am not saved or that I lack in faith; it simply means that I struggle with fully accepting that God can love me this much.  How can this struggle ensue within the mind of a child of God?  That question is not easily answered. 

The Hurt of Healing

The mere thought of the process of healing being painful is enough to make the strongest individual shudder in fright.  Why?  Simply put, no one likes pain…especially pain in the midst of pain.  Haven’t we been through enough?  Why in the world would someone volunteer on a daily basis to submit to unwanted discomfort?  Because the pain that we endure for the sake of Christ and Him crucified is not for this life only, but for an eternal life to come. 

I can never come close to illustrating this for you as well as Paul does.  Often times through his letters to churches and individuals he mentions the numerous trials and adversity he and his followers have faced.  In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV he summarizes his afflictions by stating, “we are hard pressed…; perplexed; persecuted; [and] struck down”.  Nevertheless, in the beginning of verse 16 of this chapter he declares that he will not give up.  “Therefore we do not lose heart.”  Why, why, why?  Why would someone endure such affliction?  We now see his absolutely beautiful response to the question of why in verse 17.  “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (emphasis mine).

Who Said Healing is Quick and Easy?

So, if we finally reach the realization that healing is needed and we also come to the understanding that it is God who must perform the work, then why is healing so difficult? Shouldn’t absolute surrender usher into motion the switch to be flipped and thus healing come flooding our bodies, minds, souls and spirits?  Oh, how I dreamed of this, prayed for this and wondered why it never came as I had fathomed.  Had I not handed over the reins of healing to the Great Physician?  Didn’t I pass on the control option and give it to the One that Healeth thee for once in my life?  To both questions I can say emphatically yes and yes!!!

However, encompassing the slightest knowledge of our great God, we should know with absolute assurance that He, in no manner, works according to how we think, feel or believe.  His Word will give us the explanation why He chooses not to perform or work out our healing according to our will and desire.  We have all, at some time or another heard the words “His ways are far above our ways and His thoughts are far above our thoughts”.  This alone should suffice in why He chooses to do what He does in the way of our healing.  However, I came upon another verse that melted me.