A closed heart never heals. An open heart is a surrendered heart that finally says, “God, I need you.” Once we understand our need for our Father’s love, forgiveness, and strength, we are able to open our heart and receive his love, forgiveness, and strength.
It all starts with Him! We love because he first loved us, and then God lovingly calls us and draws us to him. Hopefully, we open our minds and hearts to hear him, and surrender our needs to his loving call.
This is the real journey to peace and joy. This holiday season, when you think your world is dark and only filled with sadness, remember to open your heart to your Heavenly Father for HIS joy and peace to fill the void. Psalm 45:7 has a precious prayer for you today, “Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”
You, too, can have the oil of God’s joy poured out upon you. Ask him for it, and then look for the moments of joy he will lovingly place in your life—today. Yes, this Christmas, this very sad Christmas can have joy, but there is a part of this journey that is totally up to you.
You must open your mind and heart to the reality that God loves you with an intense and personal love. You have to surrender your sadness to him. You have to receive the moments of joy that Jesus places in your life, and then you just have to enjoy them, savor them, remember them. Joy is yours for the asking!
My dear friends, may this Christmas remind you of what Christ came to earth for—to provide the journey to peace through his horrific death and glorious resurrection. “We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Now he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.” Hebrews 12:2 GW
Praying for your peace and joy—this Christmas,
Elaine Kennelly
”Finding Peace After a Suicide Loss