What would happen if you believed with every fiber of your being that you are, indeed, God’s Beloved Child? My prediction is that there would be a great deal of rejoicing from within and without. Well, guess what?! The Truth is you are God’s Beloved Child, so you have every reason to sing, dance, clap your hands, shout praises to the Lord!I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely someone who wants and needs frequent reminders that I am loved, cherished, seen as precious and valuable. Fortunately, the Lord wants nothing more than to shower us with an abundance of blessings to let us know how deeply loved we are by Him.
God’s joy is in loving us unconditionally, passionately, and overwhelmingly. His love for us is the source of our strength. His willingness to give His own Son to show us how to live, suffer, die, and rise again is the ultimate proof that we are God’s Beloved Children. He doesn’t withhold any goodness, fruit of the spirit or blessing to any who come to His table.
That is not to say that our lives will be without suffering or devoid of pain, but it means that throughout even the most daunting trial or haunting tragedy, the Lord will remain with us. He won’t turn away or abandon us. We can persevere in hardships knowing that, united to Christ’s Passion and death on the Cross, our suffering can be used for the salvation of souls in time and eternity.
The physical, emotional, and spiritual crosses we bear in this life will not be in vain. Though sorrow and strife may plague us in this life, threatening to rob of us of all of our hope and joy, we know that there is more than our earthly existence to be concerned with; we have been offered an eternity of unconditional love and pure unbridled rejoicing with the Lord.
Is there anything keeping you from rejoicing that you are a beloved child of God? If yes, what is it? Would you be willing to offer it up to the Lord and listen for His Truth?
“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
He has cast out your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear evil no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
He will rejoice over you with gladness
He will renew you in his love;
He will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.”
Zephaniah 3:14-18
Note: This reflection, written in honor of the participants of the Women's Cursillo Weekend taking place at Shalom House from May 31-June 2, 2012, first appeared in the May 2012 Edition of The Rooster Review.
