The Heart of God
A funny thing happened in 2004 when my husband Lee was the Air Force Group Commander at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.
The Fire Chief, performing a routine inspection of the plywood makeshift barracks, noticed the airmen had hung shower curtains between their cots in order to gain a little privacy when they were off-duty. Because they were made of flammable material, he deemed them a fire hazard and ordered all of them removed.
Well somehow as the news of this event was communicated to a loved one back home and passed along to friends, it escalated from a trivial, daily event into one of earth-shattering importance. It was a bit like the game of telephone we played as children, where a whispered message quickly became distorted as it passed along a row of friends.
Apparently, in someone’s hometown, sweet “Aunt Mildred” told her best friend “Flora” who told her pastor, and before you knew it, an entire community heard the message that the poor airmen over in Afghanistan were being deprived the most basic of privacy rights as their Group Commander was forcing them to shower without shower curtains!
Generous hearts were moved with compassion and the donations quickly poured in. Within the month, boxes began arriving at Bagram Air Base. Nearly one hundred shower curtains, no doubt carefully and prayerfully chosen, were shipped to Bagram from a church somewhere in the southern U.S.
I can’t help but laugh as I imagine the confused looks on the faces of those opening this shipment – possibly expecting care packages of snacks and favorite movies – but instead they found . . . shower curtains.
So as ridiculous as it seems, the question discussed at the next staff meeting was “What in the world do we do with all these?” I’m fairly certain this particular issue had never before been addressed in a forward location during wartime!
After some discussion, a decision was reached and the shower curtains were donated - to some group, somewhere, and used for something. (Sorry, that’s all I know.)
This story never fails to put a smile on my face, but it also makes me think about life ...
How often do we unpack the moments of our days only to be disappointed by the contents? And how often do we allow our disappointments and unmet expectations to distort the simple, yet profound message of God’s love for us? I’ve talked to so many people whose deep hurts have made them feel at times as if God was neglecting them rather than caring for them?
It makes me wonder how different our lives would be if . . .
Instead of being defeated by our disappointments, we allowed them to drive us deeper into the heart of God. What would we find? How would we change? Imagine what would happen if we viewed each and every disappointment through the radiant light of God’s extravagant, unconditional love.
Here are some love notes from God’s Word that always draw me deeper into God’s heart:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love and drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
" . . . you are precious and honored in my sight . . . I love you” Isaiah 43:4
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:15-16
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17
In other words, the Creator of the Universe knows your very name, your face and your situations. Your needs and the deepest desires of your heart are constantly in the forefront of your Savior’s mind. He is consumed with thoughts of you. A moment doesn’t even exist when He is not overflowing with love… for you.
And if that doesn’t blow your mind, here’s a thought that never ceases to amaze me: Each time we turn our thoughts toward Him, each time we thank Him or notice Him or ask Him a question, or express our love for Him, He actually breaks out in song, rejoicing over us with delight, not because He’s supposed to, but because HE LOVES US and desires us to know His heart above all else.
Would you take a moment right now and ask Him to help you receive and believe His immense love for you?
Hear the Words of His Heart: “I love you so much, <your name> - more than you can even imagine! I am with you and for you. I know your name and I know where you live. Not one detail of your current situation has escaped My notice. As you allow each and every disappointment to drive you deeper into my heart, you will be amazed at the depth and vastness of my love for you. I am taking care of you. I am working on your behalf, right now, in this place. I’ve got you covered – don’t you worry about a thing. I’m holding you in my arms of everlasting love.”
