The T-shirt part 2
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. That's experiential knowledge. Heart knowledge. Not just knowing ABOUT something, but KNOWING it. And that's how our relationship with God can be, now, on this side of the cross. The Holy Spirit is our love receptor. He has equipped and empowered us to receive and release His love. And that's where it gets real. Because the same relationship we have with God is the relationship we can (and should) have with each other. That's the releasing part of receiving and releasing. Jesus knows everything we're going through because He's been through it. So He is uniquely situated to help us through it. In fact to CARRY us through it. The reason His burden is easy and yoke is light is because HE is carrying it. And carrying us. So when we then apply that one to another--"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2)--we begin to understand why we go through things. We begin to see a bigger picture. We begin to look beyond just ourselves. "I've been exactly where you're at. I can tell you, from experience, that you're going to be ok." That kind of assurance means a lot more than, "Good luck with that." AND that kind of assurance takes any form of judgment or condemnation right out of the equation. Instead of, "I can't believe you screwed up so bad" or, "I can't believe you're in THAT situation," it's, "I understand. I really and truly understand." And that, my friends, is priceless. Because even though we know that this human experience is very universal--we all go through the same kinds of things--when we're going through them we feel like nobody has ever had to deal with what we're dealing with. We feel isolated and alone. We feel like asking for help is a sign of weakness. But asking for help is NOT a sign of weakness. Asking for help is a sign of wisdom. And when we get to THAT place... THAT'S when His strength is made perfect. That's when God has some room to operate. I'm convinced that if you want to try to do it yourself, God will let you. All throughout the Old Testament the people wanted to go their own way. And God would always warn them not to, but He never physically stopped them. (I mean, He did cause a giant fish to swallow Jonah, but still...) When the people wanted a human king, God gave them one. When they wanted external laws to govern them, He gave them the Law of Moses. Even though it wasn't what HE wanted. So if you want to bang your head against the wall trying to make things be how YOU want them to be... I think God will let you. But I can tell you (from experience) that the most you'll get is a headache. You can't do it all yourself. And that's the point. Jesus fulfilled that Law of Moses because the people couldn't. So it's not from works and labor. Works don't work. It's from rest. It's from trusting Jesus. Trusting that He HAS overcome the world. And that makes me MORE than a conqueror. I don't have to conquer. Jesus already did. I don't have to overcome, because in Him I already overcame. And that knowledge--HEART knowledge--let's me then turn around and help you. I don't have to bear my own burdens, so I can bear yours. Or at the very least I can HELP you bear yours. I can take some of the weight. Let you know that we're in this together. I've been where you are and you WILL make it through!