Lessons From Twix Craving

Awhile back, we had people over for cheesecake for a friend's birthday. I am not a big cheesecake fan, so I declined the dessert. Apparently it was amazing for cheesecake, because everyone was raving about it. It made me want dessert as well. I remembered that I had a mini Twix bar in our pantry. I got to thinking how cool it would be if I could get this morsel without getting up. I could have a stretchy arm that would travel from the couch into the hall and then around the corner to the kitchen.

But something struck me. If I did that, I would have some problems once I got around the corner. Hands don't have eyes, so I may run into something. At very least, I would have trouble opening the pantry door since I couldn't see it. And forget about rummaging through the pantry without knowing where I was going! The message was clear: hands need eyes.

It's so much like us as people! I am loving more and more the lesson that God created us to be united with others! There is actually no possible way to get through your whole life without the help of others. And not just in the physical sense that someone has to nurture you as a child, manufacture your food and clothing, govern you, pay you a salary, etc. But also emotionally. People who never open up to others will never know how accepted they are. And when you don't know that you are acceptable to others, you don't know that you are acceptable to God. I never used to believe that, but think of this. God makes people in His image, and He is the source of all things. If you are afraid to give your deepest things to any person (of course, they should be trustworthy, but such people exist!), how can you trust a God whom you can't see or control? I realized that deep down, I "trusted" God, but it was only where I could see and understand what was happening. If I couldn't, I had a hard time trusting Him. And that was the exact reason I couldn't trust people with certain things I felt were too shameful, gory, personal, etc. to share with others.

But then the Amazing Mighty God revealed this with kindness and gentleness. I began to meet people whose very touch brought deep healing to me. Friends whose kindness restored places long devastated in me. People who gave without expecting anything in return, and would do it again twice on Tuesday. Then something happened! I began hearing God's loving voice more clearly! It shook me to the core of my being, and it is changing EVERYTHING in my life! Ahhhhhh!

Do you want to trust this way? Do you want the kind of openness where you can love anyone, no matter how mean they are to you, without being hindered? And the kind of love for God where you'd trust His love for you no matter what? I want more, too!

So here's what you do: just ask Him! Ask Him why the trust issues exist. Be prepared for your relationships and your entire life to change dramatically! Enjoy your search, and know you are always overwhelmingly loved, seen, and heard. Peace and love to you, friend.