Sometimes at the end of a long day, I crawl into bed and imagine sitting with the Lord at one of my favourite places.  It was a resting place on a hike we took in my early twenties and I remember how good it felt to sit there. I remember being exhausted and how good the sun felt on my face as I let my body just rest on the cool grass. That's one of my "prayer places" that I go to in my imagination to sit with the Lord. Sometimes I talk and ask Him questions or sometimes I just sit quietly beside Him.

One profound thing that this image has for me is that as I sit beside Him, I imagine glancing at his hands and seeing the scars from the nails. I see a suffering Saviour, a God who knows pain, someone who faced the ultimate loneliness, rejection, sadness and physical pain. Sometimes, when I imagine seeing those scars, it quietens and humbles me and I just sit beside Him. My complaining starts to diminish. My requests seem petty. It helps me understand how I must too suffer, bearing my own pain and the pain of others. Sharing in his suffering.

I heard a song again this week and loved it. God's love song to us . . . and the proof of His love is in his scars. You can watch the video below and/or read the lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usD-xpjXkvY

Drops in the Ocean - Hawk Nelson

I want you as you are not as you ought to be
Won't you lay down your guard and come to me
The shame that grips you now is crippling
It breaks my heart to see you suffering
'Cause I am for you, I'm not against you

If you wanna know how far my love can go
Just how deep, Just how wide
If you wanna see how much you mean to me
Look at my hands, Look at my side
If you could count the times I'd say you are forgiven
It's more than the drops in the ocean, ooh ooh

Don't think you need to settle for a substitute
When I'm the only love that changes you
And I am for you, I'm not against you
I am for you, I'm not against you

If you wanna know how far my love can go
Just how deep, Just how wide
If you wanna see how much you mean to me
Look at my hands, Look at my side

Praying that you have a great week, that your perspective on who God is will be renewed and that you will know that you are not alone, that your God understands and will strengthen you and give you purpose and peace!