Let God In

Holding fast to God’s love

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by Kathy Gust

Kathy is a spiritual director. She is well known to Baptist Women through her workshops and guest teaching at events. GOD IS WITH US. No matter what. It doesn’t matter if our lives are tidy, messy or somewhere in between. It doesn’t matter if we’re in a season full of hope and joy or suffering and despair. It doesn’t matter if we’re measuring up to expectations or disappointing ourselves and others. In any and all situations, God is with us and His posture towards us is love.

The question before us is: “Does this fact make a tangible difference in our lives?” Do we know what it is to experience God in all areas of life, including areas of doubt, failure and suffering? Do we know how to experience God’s love and care when the bottom drops out? Are there spiritual practices that can help us get there?

One of the most powerful spiritual practices I know is to simply offer to God whatever I have, wherever I am.

I learned this practice during a time of great suffering in my life. At first it seemed strange. I would sit outside on my deck, hold out my hands and say things to God like, “I don’t know what to do, I offer this to you.” . . . “I really hate the situation I’m in, I offer it to you.” . . . “I feel like You don’t answer prayer, I offer that to You.” As you can see, these were not prayers full of hope and faith that the situation would change. Those prayers had been said long before and were long gone at this stage. I’d run out of prayers asking for a miracle and run out of faith that there was anything in myself that could make things better or bring freedom. All I was left with at this point was the prayer of letting God in . . . into this place that I didn’t want

to be, a place of pain, uncertainty and grief. I’d much rather have God invite me to go somewhere else but since that wasn’t happening, I learned to invite Him in to be with me where I was. It changed my life.

What happens when we invite God to come in to the places where we are but don’t want to be? What happens when we invite Him to come and be with us as we suffer? Does the suffering immediately end? While miracles are always possible, I’ve learned that quite often the answer is no, the suffering doesn’t immediately end. The feeling of suffering doesn’t immediately end either . . . it still hurts. What does happen is that we learn experientially that we are not alone. In Jesus, we have someone with us who also knows what it is to suffer. Our relationship and love for Him deepen as we consider His suffering and realize a taste of what it might have felt like in light of our own. We can ask: “Jesus, is this what it was like for you?” There is a peace and deep comfort that can come even in the midst of suffering. A love and sense of safety to know that even here, God is with us. It’s inexplicable yet true.

Here’s the thing. There is a great vulnerability required in order to let someone in to our suffering, even when that someone is God. Suffering, doubt, being unsure, feeling fear . . . these all make us feel unstable, out of control, tender and vulnerable. Tell the wrong person about it and the suffering is compounded by their judgement, rejection or lack of understanding. If we believe that this is

I learned to invite Him in to be with me where I was.

how God will treat us, we will not let Him in to comfort us. When we find ourselves hesitant to invite God in, it’s helpful to turn to the Scriptures or to a mature believer to see again the way that Jesus treats people who are suffering, who are unsure, who are vulnerable. It’s also helpful to ask God to give us the courage and grace that we need to invite Him in.

As I’ve continued the practice of letting God in to be with me wherever I am, I’ve experienced an interior freedom and expansiveness that I didn’t realize was possible.

I’ve discovered that there’s something about just being in the presence of God, being still and knowing that God is God, and that over time, is deeply healing in itself.

I have a greater understanding and acceptance of myself, a deeper trust and awareness of God’s very real goodness and care, and an awe of Him that takes my breath away.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew 11: 28-30 NIV). 