Lectio:
“I believe that God is love and that suffering is, in His hand, the means His love takes to transform us and save us.”
— Élisabeth Leseur, Journal et pensées de chaque jour
Meditatio:
Trying to change the world to meet our selfish wants, needs, or demands is a fool’s errand. Not only will it alienate us from those we attempt to control, but it will ultimately leave us dissatisfied, frustrated, and unfulfilled. We are not God, nor did He ask us to be (Psalm 46:10).
This is not to say that our lives should have no effect on the people around us or on the world at large. Of course they should. We are not here for nothing. Nor are we here simply to allow life to wash over us without participation or influence. We are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16).
God gave us free will so that we might use it. He created us in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27), which means He created us to be creative beings who exercise meaningful influence in the world. More specifically, the God of Love created us to be loving, creative beings who bear that influence through love.
He created us from love and for love, so that through love we might create in love. When we use our free will from a place of love and for the purpose of love—seeking to build relationships, create beauty, and nurture life—we help promote godly change in the world.
But we are creatures not only of love, but also marked by sin.
With God whispering in our hearts and the Devil screaming in our ears, our motives, intentions, and actions are often tainted by selfishness, fear, anger, and dishonesty—even when we believe we are thinking and acting from a place of purity (Jeremiah 17:9).
The Devil—the Accuser, the Deceiver, and the Adversary (John 8:44)—uses whatever tricks and tactics he can to destroy what love has brought into the world. He seeks to turn us into people who accuse instead of trust, deceive instead of support, and sow seeds of discord, friction, and antagonism instead of unity, tranquility, and harmony.
He tempts us to believe that our petty fears and selfish desires are more important than our relationships, and that other people are either obstacles to overcome or means to an end—tools to be used and discarded. He whispers that the only way to be happy is to get what we want, no matter the cost or whom we wound.
But grace is stronger than sin (Romans 5:20).
Love is greater than selfishness.
God is stronger than the Father of lies.
Our task, then, is not to will nothing, do nothing, or say nothing.
It is to align our will with His will,
our actions with His purposes,
and our words with His truth —and to change the world in, through, and for Love.
For we are Christ’s body in the world, put here to do His will, not ours (1 Corinthians 12:27).
This is the proper use of the will.
This is freedom.
This is love.
Oratio:
In the midst
of all that is changing,
unsettled,
unsettling,
seek that which remains—
forever stable,
faithful,
true.
Sit still,
receptive,
willing,
hands open
heart humble
listen to the changes
Love is asking
to make
within you.
Contemplatio:
How does surrendering my own will to God’s will free me from the burden of control and allow love to shape my life?
Related Scripture:
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
For Further Reading:
If you enjoyed this piece, you may also like Do Not Be Disturbed: Resisting the World’s Clamor and Finding Peace in God’s Faithfulness
~Robert Van Valkenburgh
Grappling With Divinity.
Wrestling With God.
Returning To Love.
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