In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17-18.

I loved this today in You Are The Beloved by Henri Nouwen: “Real Care – the great secret of the spiritual life, the life of the Beloved Sons and Daughters of God, is that everything we live, be it gladness or sadness, joy or pain, health or illness, can all be part of the journey toward the full realization of our humanity. It is not hard to say to one another: “All that is good and beautiful leads us to the glory of the children of God.” But it is very hard to say: “But didn’t you know that we all have to suffer and thus enter into our glory?” Nonetheless, real care means the willingness to help each other in making our brokenness into a gateway to joy. Life of the Beloved.”

Changing our brokenness into a gateway to joy happens through our walk with Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit, and He will always lead us faithfully if we let Him. He is not broken. Seek His help and He will guide you.

This chapter, Isaiah 34, is difficult to read. It shakes up our way of thinking. Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! The Lord is angry with all nations; His wrath is on all their armies. He will totally destroy them, He will give them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will stink; the mountains will be soaked with their blood. All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. v. 1-4. It goes on but if we stop to consider why, it helps. Why is God angry with the nations? Because war is relentless and never ending.

This morning we were led in an exercise called Examen. Questions for reflection were where am I most or least present to God’s love in my day?…Am I aware of moments I might pass by as insignificant, but that can give me direction?…Am I discerning the voice and activity of God within the flow of my day? And the same thing here as with the chapter verses above – if we stop to consider why, it helps. Why do we need God? Because He is not broken. Our thoughts become muddled, confused and stuck. We can’t see a way forward. When I examen where God is leading me, it is to trust Him for everything. And He is able. I’m learning gradually moment by moment not to fear what I can’t see or control. It especially helps when there are gaps and no answers to prayers given in faith that He hears. We can’t see all that God is working in our lives and the lives of those we love; we can’t see all that God is working throughout the generations upon generations of nations – but God does see and He is working for our good in Him. One day armies will be no more. Today we can be led to help each other by sharing our brokenness and allowing God’s perfect love to drive out the fear of punishment. In this way…love is made complete among us. We are not alone in our fears, in our brokenness, in our pain. It helps to walk with God and let Him lead you to companionship with others who love Him and have walked that path of brokenness with Him. Burdens are shared and understood. And if you let God, He will be your guide to life with Him and with others who love Him and need His help, too. We can stay broken; nations can stay broken. But…if you long for more…turn to God and ask for His help. He’s here. Always.