Your Love Broke Through

Sometimes what we really need is just to have the Lord break through the hard enamel we have coated ourselves with. We apply layer after layer until our exterior is so shiny and hard that it feels like we will crack when we try to smile; we feel all shaky and nasty inside and fake on the outside. We keep applying the stuff around ourselves when we are hurt or sad or lonely, when we are disappointed or upset or sinful. We are trying to protect ourselves but all we end up doing is keeping the One who can help us out and all of the bad stuff in. We don't know how to deal with how we feel, so we find some way not to feel it...

When God's love breaks through our self erected walls, I won't kid you, it is painful. We need to ask Him for His forgiveness and for His peace. And the more we have coated or built up around ourselves, the more painful it can be when it all comes crashing down. We need to be real with God and with ourselves. We need to feel the pain and hand it over to God. Once we hand it over to Him, we can get past it but we probably won't ever get over it. Masking the pain is never productive. We mask it, hide from it, run from it, blame someone else for it, get angry over it, sugar coat it, glaze it over and surround it with things that make it look better than it actually is. What we seldom do is deal with it. Honesty is the best policy. First, we need to be honest with ourselves and then we need to be honest with God who sees it all. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

"Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart." Psalm 36:5-10 (NIV)

Dear Lord, Let Your love break through to our hardened hearts. Help us to be softened toward You and Your love. Teach us to feel our pain instead of masking it or decorating it. Let us lay everything at Your feet and help us to leave it there, Lord. Forgive us and heal us. Help us to be honest with ourselves, with others and with You...