Are you happy? Part 2
The last post was about the fact that my husband and I (finally) realized that talking about our feelings in marriage is extremely good for us. It deepens our relationship and makes it thrive. This emotional closeness increases the feeling of love, acceptance and security.
We are still consciously “practicing” and take time for deep conversations. I’ve noticed in the process that just as emotional conversations are good for every relationship, it’s also important for our relationship with God. I feel closer to God the more I entrust my “joys and sorrows” to Him and the more time I allow myself to do so. When I come to him in prayer and am open to his speaking, I feel his benevolence and unconditional love, his encouragement and sometimes his loving correction. God is for me and you! I am always amazed that God knows me through and through and still loves me unconditionally! How awesome is that?
Just like with my partner, it is so good to uncover wishes and dreams with God, to look at them from all angles together with him and to keep on developing them. Maybe God has planted them in our hearts, so that more grows …
When I bring troubling everyday situations to God, He will help me to see His perspective. I sit down in my favorite spot, complain to God about my troubles, become quiet and try to be open to God’s “suggestions”. I’m always amazed what happens.
At first I moan about a person who is annoying me or who really stepped on my toes – but then I suddenly see how the situation arose. The other person usually didn’t mean it personally and both the person’s sore spots and mine were involved. I played my part in causing the problem in the first place. Perhaps I even see the positive sides of my counterpart! God sees us, knows us and hears us. And he will either resolve the situation himself, change my attitude towards it, show me something about myself or he will give me the patience and the strength to endure it.
One more thought about this: God calls me his child and he also makes himself vulnerable when he offers me his love. If I reject his love, it hurts him too, just as it hurts me when my child rejects me, my considerations, my encouragement and challenges, my care and my love.
God will never judge you, he knows your innermost being and still stands by you. Even his correction is encouraging!
We love because God loved us first. 1. John 4:19 (GW)
God loved us first. In contrast to us, he is love and doesn’t have to practice this like we do! Whenever you come to him and are open, you are strengthened and encouraged. If this is not the case, you’ve heard negative thoughts and not God! You will notice when it is God, because then you will feel loved unconditionally!
My relationship with God is deeper and closer the more I talk about my feelings with him. Even the close relationship with a person strengthens me and will sometimes change my perspective. How much more will the relationship with God do that – and he will intervene in his own way, strengthen us with his love and change either our point of view or the situation itself.
