I don’t know how He did it, but somehow in Gethsemane or on the cross, Jesus stepped out of time and lived a lifetime in my shoes. He experienced my upbringing and understands why I formed the beliefs and values I have. He understands why some beliefs I formed weren’t true while others were. He knows every detail of my life… my weaknesses, my strengths, the chinks in my armor, my deep unmet needs.
He knows why I made every choice along my path… some willfully rebellious and others made through ignorance or being misguided. He knows how Satan skillfully used my strengths against me or used my deep unmet needs to get me to make unwise choices to fill those needs.
Because the Great Physician knows me so well, He isn’t satisfied to slap a Band-AidTM on my problems or hand me an aspirin. He digs deep, lancing festering wounds, and getting to the root causes of my problems… adjusting my perspectives, repairing my misperceptions, and helping me see truth. In the process, He changes my heart, which changes my attitudes and behavior.
Sometimes I have to learn the hard way. Others, He gently and patiently works His healing therapy line upon line and precept upon precept.
I have come to understand that the more I trust Him and lean upon Him, the more I see His tender mercies and gentleness… and the compensating blessings in the most difficult of challenges and corrections.
I am grateful for my Savior’s gentle tutelage and the way He has held my hand and sent joy even amidst my most painful moments. I have learned that the crucible for joy is hollowed out by sorrow and pain. Perhaps this is because He is there with us in each moment, transforming everything for our good… if we let Him.
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