Wide, Long, High and Deepfeatured

Earlier this week I had a bit of a pity party for myself.  I had been under the weather for about a month with bronchitis and was having a few “woe is me” moments thinking I was never going to get my energy level back.  Our mighty God took a few minutes of his time to give me a gentle reminder.  This is my paraphrase: “Hello!  You are painting a series on the length and width and height and depth of Christ’s love.  Why not think about that for a while and get this pity party over with!”  So, I did.

It occurred to me that we face a variety of situations in our lives where it is easy to lose perspective.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of life’s huge challenges for me to get off track (evidenced in the paragraph above!).  I think the Apostle Paul knew that we would need  reminders that Christ love is with us always, even when we are in the midst of trying circumstances.   In Ephesians 3: 17-18 he wrote: “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ….”

Sometimes we are faced with issues that seem to go on forever (my one month “issue” is hardly a good example!).  We can’t see any resolution and we just don’t feel we have the endurance that is required.  Our verse in Ephesians tells us that Christ’s love is longer than any “forever” problem that we are facing.  His love stretches from before the earth was formed to eternity and is with us each step of our long road.

Some situations just seem totally overwhelming and seem so broad and wide that they totally surround us.  It is hard to sense any way out.  Christ love, however, is wider than the horizon.  I picture His arms as broad enough to stretch around the world (or the universe!) yet close enough to envelope me in a warm hug.  Sometime His hug is just what is needed to regain perspective on an issue.

We are occasionally faced with circumstances that challenge us mentally, physically, and/or spiritually; we have a “mountain” to climb.  We feel too weak or tired or unskilled or inadequate for the task at hand.  Yet Christ love is higher than the highest mountain.  His love reaches to the heavens and is there to strengthen and sustain us as we ascend the “mountain” we face.

Some problems can pull us down into the depths.  Despair and discouragement color our perspective of the problem.  We don’t seem able to crawl out of the deep hole we are in. Yet, Christ love is deeper than any abyss.  Out of His deep, deep love for us, He descended into the very deepest abyss and returned triumphant.  He is there with us when we are in the depths and will guide our way out.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit, a comforter and counselor.  He told them that the Spirit would “guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13).  When we are facing tough situations, it is easy to lose perspective and forget that we too can ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into the truth.  The truth is that Jesus’ love is with us, in us and all around us, regardless of the length, width, height, or depth of our situation.

I felt led to write this devotion because I don’t think I’m the only one who occasionally loses perspective when faced with life’s challenges (large or small)!  I needed to remember the scope of Christ’s love for me earlier this week.  My prayer is God will use this devotional to encourage someone.  If you know someone who is going through a tough time, I hope you will pass this along.  I pray that you will vividly experience the width and length and height and depth of Christ’s love this week! [jetpack_subscription_form]