I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3: 18-19 NRSV)
Are you living in the fullness of God? I would have to say that I am not, but I am on my way toward it. For many years, I could honestly say that I knew the message of the Gospel, I embraced it and I had received Jesus into my life. My problem was that my understanding was based on head knowledge more than it was truly heart knowledge in many ways. I could have shared with anyone about how Jesus loves them and that eternal life is possible through Him, if we choose to accept Him. I had experienced God’s love in a transforming way, but it was just the beginning of the transformation in my life that God had planned for me, which is ongoing.
My faith was put to the test a few years ago when my circumstances caused me to feel that I was “at the end of my rope,” and definitely more vulnerable than I had ever felt before. I sought God with all my heart as I somehow knew that He would make a way for me, and that regardless of what was ahead of me that He would give me strength to endure. His response to my need was greater than I could have anticipated. In a way, it was like He reset my spiritual foundation and ultimately, my entire life and outlook. He did that by showing me His love in a more profound way than I had known before. There is nothing lacking in His love for me, it’s perfect in every way. His love for me never changes, even when I am unfaithful to Him in some way.
After He did that for me, I was able grasp and “own” His love. I knew it was mine, even though I didn’t deserve it. I still tried to rationalize to Him, how and why I was unlovable, but I wasn’t fooling anyone, especially not God. He knows everything about me and loves me with an unfailing love anyway. That’s truly awe-inspiring.
When God revealed His love for me in such a powerful way, everything in my world changed. I was about to face the toughest battle of my life, and in some ways continue to do so. Over these years, my physical body has broken down, but spiritually and emotionally I am stronger than I have ever been. I maintain my testimony of living in faith for healing, but I fully acknowledge that the healing of my life overall is taking place in the present. I speak about my lifelong physical issues, but the other side of that is the way that I have been affected emotionally and spiritually. Those parts of me are being restored step by step, and that is an important part of my journey toward living in the fullness of God and being whole, as He desires for me.
You are on your own path toward wholeness and living in the fullness of God. I don’t know your struggles, but I do know this…there is nothing that you will ever go through that God is not able to bring you through. I don’t understand why I’ve had to go through the things I have, and I suspect you have likely wondered why your life has the complications it does at times. When I wonder about these things, I recall Job’s testimony in the aftermath of all that he endured. In Job 42:5, we read, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” Can you see Him?
My prayer is, “Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love. Please help me to fully take hold of it, and “own” it. Please help me to see you in the good times and the bad. I trust you in all things. AMEN.”
