That surprising twist

The other day I told someone how I had royally messed up, but that God had used it to get me back on track, and good had come out of it.  The person went silent for what seemed like a minute. “Oh no!” I thought. “I have offended them.”

When the person finally spoke, it was slow and deliberate. “That… is… exactly… what… happened to me… Thanks so much for sharing… It gives me hope.”

Isn’t this what God’s humour is like? It’s brilliant! The weak make others strong. The poor make others rich. The imprisoned set others free. Those who mess up, spread hope. God always finishes with a surprising twist. He says, “There is a… time to laugh.” (Ecclesiastes 3) Now is a good time!

Caught in the wrong kind of love

If someone we love keeps on hurting us, why do we still love them? It’s crazy! We think, “Oh, it was only a one off. They will change.” But then they keep walking all over us, and we still find an excuse to let them off.

Some people call it true love, but it isn’t. Love isn’t a doormat. It isn’t nice. It doesn’t pretend everything is alright.

God gives us his definition of love, and there is nothing nice about it. “This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (I John 4:10) Love dares to be true. It dares to say, “Hey, you got it wrong! I’m giving you a chance to come right.”