I just returned from assisting with what is known as the "Walk to Emmaus", a 72 hour spiritual formation weekend. I worked behind the scenes for the men's walk a week ago but was the spiritual director for the women's walk this past weekend. Wow, did God ever do His thing!
Without going into all the details, it was disheartening to listen to all the struggles, hear all of the pain and the heartache, and see all of the tears that were shed because of deep hurt that so consumed many of the women who participated in the walk. But, as God would have it, He drew them to the foot of the cross where the women were able to leave their burdens and be freed from that which had so entangled them.
And it was all because of a new understanding of grace, God's unconditional love offered to us without price. This is such a hard concept for people because we live in a culture that says we've got to "earn" it, whatever "it" is. So we work hard. We work and work and work and still feel miserable. As a result we carry more and more burdens. Then we work some more and it becomes a viscious cycle. Then insecurity sets in, rejection rears its ugly head, the pressure to measure up weighs us down. And soon we find ourselves incapacitated.
Yet in the midst of it all God offers us His grace, his love that is based upon what He has done through His son Jesus Christ, not what we could ever do. John 3:16 says that "God so loved the world that he "gave" His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life." Our response is merely that of belief, of faith in Jesus. Sin is then forgiven and burdens are lifted and relationship with God and others is restored. Why carry all that junk around when Jesus has come to take it away? In fact Jesus himself said, "Come to me, you who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest".
That's what happened in the lives of so many of the women this past wekend. They were able to respond to God's love and let Jesus remove their pain and heartache. It was amazing! Simply amazing! No wonder we sing amazing grace!!
3 comments:
good things and bad things works together for the benefit of his children......
Sounds like God was busy as usual doing His thing at the Walk! Blessings to you and Mary Lou for giving of your time. You will be blessed beyond measure!! God is good, all the time!!
It really was an amazing walk! I am so thankful for God's GRACE. I love feeling so close to HIM and so close to so many who love HIM. Maybe just a little glimpse of heaven : )
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