Have you ever seen the above image or one like it?
It is quite a good illustration for how God works in our lives. Although sometimes it seems like He is not quite so gentlemanly about asking us to give Him whatever teddy bear of comfort we are clinging to in our lives. Sometimes He simply takes things away from us, leaving us in confusion and doubt. Then we feel lost and abandoned.
He could of course show us the bigger teddy bear first to win our confidence. Yet He rarely does. In fact, He rarely even gives us the greater gift immediately after taking something from us. Perhaps He gives it sooner if we surrender readily to Him whatever pleasure or security He is asking us to give Him. Perhaps it is only because He is forced to take away the teddy bear that has become a danger to our spiritual health that He waits for us to turn to Him before He gives us the bigger one lest it should become an idol as well.
So many times I find myself wondering why He seems to deprive those dear to me (and myself as well) of things that seem necessary. Surely if He truly wanted us to live life more abundantly He would provide us with the support and healing we need in order to be able to do so?
It is easy to allow the enemy to work here—so easy to believe the devil's dastardly lies that seem so much more consonant with the reality we experience and to believe them in such subtle ways that we scarcely even realize it. We end up relying on our own strength. We believe that God does not wish to answer our prayers and therefore we must accept His will—a truth certainly, but one that so easily becomes rather a lie lived in bitterness because it taints our view of the Father's love and goodness rather than uniting us with the passion of Christ.
"God alone suffices," said Saint Teresa of Avila.
Is that not the only answer to the taking of our teddy bears?
We think we need them. We think we need to hold something to give us comfort and security and we can't bear the thought of facing Him with empty hands.
Yet His hands were empty as they hung on the cross for us, as He poured out His love for us, a love that would soon be transformed into glory in His resurrection. He had no teddy bears. Everything had been taken away from Him by the Father's will to which He surrendered absolutely.
God alone sufficed for Him as Man because He wanted us to know that it is true for us as well. He really will give us everything we need.
Of course it may mean we need to change our hearts. We may need to change our prayers. We may need to quit telling God what He needs to do and asking Him what we need to do and how we can fix things and simply enter into His presence open to receive His love. Why not come before Him with empty hands and empty hearts and say to Him: "Lord, here I am; I come to do Your will. Heal me in whatever way you wish."
"God alone suffices," said Saint Teresa of Avila.
Is that not the only answer to the taking of our teddy bears?
We think we need them. We think we need to hold something to give us comfort and security and we can't bear the thought of facing Him with empty hands.
Yet His hands were empty as they hung on the cross for us, as He poured out His love for us, a love that would soon be transformed into glory in His resurrection. He had no teddy bears. Everything had been taken away from Him by the Father's will to which He surrendered absolutely.
God alone sufficed for Him as Man because He wanted us to know that it is true for us as well. He really will give us everything we need.
Of course it may mean we need to change our hearts. We may need to change our prayers. We may need to quit telling God what He needs to do and asking Him what we need to do and how we can fix things and simply enter into His presence open to receive His love. Why not come before Him with empty hands and empty hearts and say to Him: "Lord, here I am; I come to do Your will. Heal me in whatever way you wish."
