He already knows...

Do you ever wonder why a loving, omnipotent God would give us free will? He already knows our choices won't always be for our own good. He already knows that some of our suffering will be caused by our own faulty decisions.

Have you had a child or been a child that's gone against parental advice? As a parent, we so want to hang on tight, give our best, keep our children from harm. Because when they hurt, we hurt. But we know that release must come. The letting go must happen in order for them to grow and mature.

The same goes with our Heavenly Father. He gave us freedom to choose, but sometimes our hearts and minds are so fragile, so broken, that we can't help but make the wrong choice.

That's why we need a Savior.

That's why His sacrifice becomes so personal.

Because we can't always help ourselves. And He knows the hurt it will cause.

I know that I know that He can take the deepest grief, the most difficult circumstance, the darkest day, and turn it.

Turn it towards hope and healing.

Turn it towards new life and a new ability to give that gift of Truth to someone else.

The process is never easy. It's hard, hard work, but worth-it work. The time it takes to heal well can seem endless, but the peace it brings will be priceless.

It's the time of year for giving gifts.

The perfect Gift has already been given.

Our choice is to receive Him.

"And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philipians 4:7