Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Greatest Love Letter I've Ever Written

This is a longer read than usual but I hope you will read it to the end..... Over the course of several months I have posted about leaning on Jesus ~ about letting Him be our confidante ~ about making Him our closest friend ~ about allowing Him to be the one we go to when we are down and in trouble. It is part of His plan ~ and, frankly, I've found out over and over again that humans simply aren't wired to handle His "friend job description."

Humans fall short ~ and it simply is not their fault. We are not strong enough to carry the weight of someone else. We are not capable of being the perfect friend. We are not able to be "there" at all times for anyone. We just aren't. And when we attempt to put an individual into any of those positions it never works. We get hurt ~ they get hurt ~ and it could all have been spared if we had just followed the perfect path. There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus ~ no not one ~ and never will there be ~ ever.

Earthly friends are a great treasure to have ~ and I enjoy having them. Folk, who know me personally, know that I love to be with people. I'm one of those folk that might strike up a conversation with you in the grocery store ~ though I don't even know you. I tend to be of a friendly sort. But the dear Lord knows I've have at times placed too much emphasis on friends in this life. I reckon that is why I post about it so often. I, very well, recognize the importance of not elevating friends to a position that they should never be elevated to. You've heard the old saying ~ "Don't put me on a pedestal because I will eventually fall off." I've learned that it is an injustice to that individual to put them on the pedestal to begin with. They cannot fulfil God's job description as the perfect friend.

For the past few months I have been weary about something ~ and it is a pretty big something ~ I won't deny it. And just maybe it is my cross to bear in this life ~ my thorn in the flesh that I must be content with for my remainder here on earth. Yet with it being a rather "big something" to deal with I have confided in some family and friends about it all. But I've come to the conclusion that no matter how much I talk about it ~ it really doesn't make me feel any better ~ nor does it make the situation better. Actually I think it makes me feel worse and it makes the situation worse as well.

I figure the folk are praying for me once I talk with them and I certainly don't minimize the profit of that. But I reckon I could have gotten them to pray for me if I had just told them I had a serious unspoken that I needed them to take to the feet of Jesus. Please don't misunderstand me. I don't believe that it is wrong to have close friends that we can confide in and lay our head on their shoulder in the darkest of times and just sit and pray and know that they are there for us. That is the making of a wonderful earthly friendship. That is a true friend. But it becomes of much less affect and can only bring pain when we replace God with them. It is a fine line ~ is it not? And sometimes a hard one to discern.

This week I really got to thinking about my "friendship" with God ~ and how I need to be treating Him like my closest friend. So three days ago I began a love letter. I've started more prayer journals than I can count ~ so I knew this had to be different if I was going to stick with it. I simply began a new folder in my word processor ~ and each time I have felt lonely and gloomy, each time I have wanted to lay my head on His shoulder and have a good cry, each time I wanted to feel the love and warmth of His arms around me ~ I have taken out my laptop and begun to write a letter to Him. As I pray I type it. And guess what? It works. It really works. And if I'm interrupted ~ I don't lose my place. :)

I will sit at that keyboard and pray and cry and type and pray and cry and type some more. Oh what a friend He is ~ like no other ~ no not one. I cannot see His face or hear His voice but I know that He is there. I cannot tangibly feel Him holding me close as He tells me everything will be alright but I know He is there.

O, what a friend we have in Jesus ~ all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit ~ O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have you written God a love letter lately? It's a great experience.

11 Thoughts On The Matter:

Deborah said...

Amen....It's amazing that you have posted some of my very thoughts. I have been wanting to post on a similar topic... but just haven't quite gotten it together. Even the phrase about putting someone on a pedastel! I've done that...and not only do they fall off, but I think God knocks them off!
Also...when I was newly saved I wrote my prayers...pouring my heart out, and somewhere along the way I stopped. Perhaps I should pick it back up.
And maybe I'll get to my own post on this someday soon! Thanks for the nudge...could be that there are others out there who may benefit from our posts.

GraceFromHim said...

I struggle in this area too. I have a heart for others and a burden for my friends. This is a great reminder to me that I can not fix my friends problems, but I can point them to the one who can! There are times where I need reminded myself that Jesus knows all, why call a friend to share my burden when I have one who is waiting to hear from me. Sometimes I think as women we run to others for comfort, and opinion, when we need to come before Jesus FIRST!
Another thought I had while reading through this was..... a thing that has really helped me is when a friend calls with a problem, I like to pray with them on the phone. My pastor use to do this with me when I would call for advice. Hope this wasn't to long lol. Just my thoughts! I am so glad you posted this!
Blessings

Grace on the Narrow Path said...

Jesus is our best friend. He will always be here for us and with us. He will never leave us. My prayers are often with tears too! God understands all and we must accept this without any doubt or fear. God knows about the fear thing with me. He does not give us the spirit of fear! So if you don't mind I would like to pray now. Dear God, please be here with us now. Take away anything that hinders our relationship with You. Thank you God for answered prayers. We love you, Lord. Forgive us Lord, when we fail you. In Jesus Name, I pray.
Bren

Anonymous said...

For me, knowing the struggle often helps me to pray more seriously for someone. Not that I can't pray seriously for an unspoken need, but going to God on behalf of you with specific requests at least makes me feel I am somehow making your true burden a little lighter.

Continuing to pray my dear friend.

Love,
Cindy

Jessica said...

Thanks for the post. I think that you have a great idea there. I find that I often write better at the keyboard than with pen and paper.(probably because I am a perectionist and I want it to be perfect! LOL!) I find that I can work things (problems and such) out in my mind better if I can see it written down. funny how the mind works isn't it? :)
God is good!

susansspace said...

I am increasingly blessed by your very insightful posts! You are so right, that Jesus is our only TRUE, consistent, forever FRIEND.
The hardest thing for me is living out the LAST part of line in the song that says: 'Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.'
Still praying....
Susan

Missy Wertz said...

I just wanted to say I needed to read your previous post. My heart is heavy for this nation. I have been fasting and praying. And my heart feels heavy. I have studying Precepts Isaiah. Our nation is exactly like Israel was during the time of Isaiah.

Thanks for sharing.

Aliene said...

I am not very verbal in person.
But over the years I have found consolation in writing the Lord a letter. It helped me to get out what I was holding in. I think my writing started when I was a young teen-ager. A visiting preacher was admonishing the youth. He told us to read our Bibles. Write it out, it would mean more to you.

As far as holding people on a pedestal~ I've done that too.
And disappointment came. Then I went to the extreme the other way.
I would not get too close to anyone for fear I would be hurt again. My pastor had to help me with that one since I am not a people person. By that I mean ~ it is hard for me to talk to strangers. In a crowd i would rather be off in a corner. My husband is just the opposite. He never meets a stranger. Wish I could, but we all have different personalities.

Anonymous said...

Many times I have sat at the computer and typed through tears my prayers to our King. I have a hard time praying aloud in public and it's always been helpful to have my prayers written down in longhand or typed. I believe it helps to also KNOW the needs to which we are asked to pray for someone. I think it honors that specific need in one's life. Thank you for sharing your deepest thoughts and prayers with us all. You are a blessing!

Nancy

~~Deby said...

We all have had or have those biggies....and I struggle with what I share...and I think sometimes you are right...some just the Lord wants to hear...I am not sure when you share or not..I think if it is something that can COLOR the thinking of someone else, it is better taken straight to the throne...yet, there are many times I have depended on prayer support...either way...just keep praying, dear one.
Deby

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I used to hate being by myself, but now, I prefer it most of the time. I can strike up a conversation anywhere, and with almost anyone, but don't have many real friends. The friends I do have want to spend more time together than I do. Larry and I don't do much with friends as a couple, either, and a couple we used to do things with are wanting to get together on Valentines Day, and we aren't thrilled.

I do want to find more time for God.