Monday, November 16, 2009

Better Than Life

I'm going to get a little personal today. There is something I struggle with that never seems to go away. Fear. Not like being afraid of spiders or heights. But the fear of bad things happening. The fear of losing my loved ones. The fear of my kids losing their parents. It's the kind of fear that really lends to the imagination. I've wasted many a night thinking about how awful it would be if these kinds of things happened. Crying and mourning over tragedies that have not come to pass. Begging God to not take me yet, because I have so much more I want to do and experience. And every time it happens, I know that I shouldn't dwell on those thoughts. I have at least learned in the last few years to immediately go before the Lord when I start down that mental path of fear and clinging to this world. And I have come to recognize that my fears are born out of love -- I love my family so much that I can't stand the thought of us being apart. But then the Holy Spirit reminds me that "perfect love CASTS OUT FEAR." (1 John 4:18) So I know that what I'm doing is completely unnecessary and really not healthy. Yet it continues to be a problem for me every once in a while.

Now, I know that I can't possibly be the only person who struggles with this viscious roller-coaster cycle. So I'd like to share with you what the Lord spoke to me last night.

Last night my husband and I went to a Christian concert to see Point of Grace and Mark Schultz. As a part of the tour, the artists were promoting the ministry World Vision. It is a ministry similar to Compassion International, where you can sign up to financially sponsor a child for a monthly amount, and that child is provided with education, physical needs, etc. Mark Schultz shared a very touching story about a recent visit he had made to another country with World Vision. He told of a group of children he had visited who were all HIV positive or had AIDS. During their time together, one of the young girls in the group wanted to get up and sing a song in her language for Mark and the other visitors. Mark was blown away by her heartfelt song, and when he asked what she was singing about, he was told that she was singing a chorus that told God "Your love is better than life."

God's love is BETTER THAN LIFE.

This really hit home with me. Especially coming from the mouth of a child who is doomed to die from a horrible illness that will not allow her to grow very old. Our life here on earth can be good, really good, at times. God has blessed me with two beautiful children who amaze me every day. And an awesome, godly husband. God is definitely the giver of ALL good things. He is the Creator of love, the Creator of happiness! But, we are not home yet. We live in a fallen world. Bad things will happen. We will be separated from loved ones by death. Of course, that separation is not forever. Death is not the end when you are a child of God. But what's even more amazing to think about is . . . as much happiness and joy that we can experience here in this life on earth, it is nothing compared to the love of God and all that it entails.

And He is a trustworthy God. I can trust Him to take care of my needs if I'm the one left behind. I can trust Him to take care of my family if I'm the first one to go Home. I can trust that being with Him is going to be way better than anything I could ever imagine. God implores us to trust Him throughout the Scriptures. And He PROVES His trustworthiness throughout the Scriptures. I can even testify to His trustworthiness from my own life experiences.

So from now on, I will choose to meditate on these truths every time my fears rise up in me. It will be a battle in my mind, to be sure. But the Truth is victorious in every battle.

David was right on when he told the Lord that "Your love is better than life." (Psalm 63:3)

I'll close with the following lyrics from a song by Trevor Morgan:

Your love is better than life
Your love is deeper than the sea
More beautiful than any of the things surrounding me
You are everything I need
More than I desire
Your love is better than life
Your love is better than life
Better than a smile
Better than a kiss
Better than any of the things I think I'll miss

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing this, Jessica. I struggle with the same thing, too, and it really encouraged me!

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