This morning Sid and I were having what I thought was just an interesting chat. I was sharing with him the latest examples of “synchronicities”, those perfectly timed coincidences that show our Creator is orchestrating our lives so beautifully and mysteriously.

I stopped waxing poetic for I had a sudden thought.

“Sid, you know He does this for everyone,” to which Sid replied, “No. You’re special.”

Wow ! So not true!

We continued . . .

“Sid, you know God loves all of His children exactly the same. There are no favorites. It’s just that when you’re in a relationship and it’s one-sided you tend to interact more with those who are with you more often. I’m no more special and talented than anyone else. Or if I have talent it’s a gift from God, not of my doing. I just “hear” from Him or see these coincidences as divine orchestration because my mind is on Him a lot and I see these as His workings and presence in our lives. It’s amazing!!!”

To which Sid said, “Sounds like a Shabbat Encouragement to me”, so here we go . . .

I have heard from so many people that they do not feel God’s Presence, that they feel undeserving of His Love. In my heart it feels that those are the very people our Abba would love to draw closer to Him. Quite the opposite of not being loved! As parents we know our children who feel estranged, hurt, unloved are the very ones we as parents want to hug all the more! Sometimes it’s just a matter of lack of communication.

Yet sometimes those are the children who turn away, to other things that only take them farther away from the source of love so not feeling the love becomes a self -fulfilling prophecy. Also a difference in the analogy to our Abba is that earthly parents sometimes fail and have given children reason to mistrust, whereas our Abba was, is, and always will be constant. His Love of us is unbreakable no matter what we do for He is the perfect Father.

To help us understand that in human terms He even sent His Son Yeshua to us to live with us, sweat and toil, cry, be like us, relatable, so we could feel how intimate this divine relationship really is. Yet we are wounded and flawed, often so wounded we can’t get past the feeling of being unlovable.

This is where faith comes in, reminding me of the time in my life when raising virtually as a single mom though married, three children aged four and under. One day I received advice from a friend to fit in a half hour jog after dinner and I would become energized for the multitude of evening routines and responsibilities that still lay ahead. I had never been sporty and I didn’t believe her.

Yet desperation caused me to have faith in her words. She was right and since then these short jogs are part of my routine. In God’s eye the plan was laid decades ago to retain that jogging discipline these days as my special time with God who routinely fills these times with divine inspiration.

Intimacy with God requires faith that He loves you unconditionally and deserving has nothing to do with it. If that were the measure none of us would be loved. Since all of us know that is not true, we must conclude everyone is loved despite merit for that’s how God is. It’s one of the most exquisite, miraculous mysteries, one just waiting for each and every person to know, to really know in their kishkas (soul, spirit, for there is no English equivalent of this amazing Yiddish word when used figuratively).

Talk to Him throughout the day. He will answer you in your spirit. He will help you know what to do. He is there when you’re crying. Love Him. Keep Him on your mind, the more the better. His Love has always been there just waiting for you to show you cared. Stay faithful to Him as He is to you.  That means daily, moment by moment.

You will not be disappointed, but rather, you will know how it feels to be loved beyond human understanding. If you don’t seek His Love, especially in these unsettling times, how will you manage the world’s turmoil for yourself and be there for others? Truthfully, when you live in His intimate love through Yeshua inexplicable shalom will follow.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane