Continuing from a previous post. . . . Patricia T. Holland wrote:
Catherine Marshall, whose writings I have come to admire because of her complete trust in God, has written about a moment in her life when she was full of self dissatisfaction, doubts, questions and had great fears about her worthiness and continued usefulness to God. She said she urgently asked for his help, and these words of complete comfort came.
“Thou art my child, Catherine. Rest in love. . . . Stop asking so many questions. Stop all this probing, taking your spiritual temperature. Does the Lord want me do this? Or what? Is this right? This is the source of confusion you are feeling. “You are My child, My disciple. I accepted you long ago as you are—as you are growing. “You are still accepted. . . .
The nervous probing is Satan’s doing, to unsettle you, to confuse you, to knock you off the base of your belief. . . . “Be not afraid. [My] joy will sweep away your fear and uncertainties.” (A Closer Walk [New York: Avon Books, 1987, p.132.)
With that appeal from someone that wishes to be reassured in order to be useful, may we recall the second half of the scripture theme from 2 Corinthians: “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, but comfort wherewith which we ourselves are comforted of God.” What a magnificent idea! We are entitled to God’s love and reassurance and comfort, at least in part, so we can pass that gift onto others.
The link between our comfort to us and our comfort, or service, to others is a powerful idea. Such encouragement to magnify God’s love to us through other people comes in this marvelous counsel in Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. Father Zossima is speaking to a woman who fears greatly because of her inadequacies (just like Catherine Marshall and the rest of us), and thus finds herself cut off and distanced from other people.
“Fear nothing and never be afraid,” Zossima says, “and don’t fret. . . . can there be a sin that exceeds the love of God? Think only of repentance . . . but dismiss fear altogether. Believe that God loves you as you cannot conceive. . . . it has been said that over one repentant sinner there is more joy in heaven than over ten righteous men. Go, and fear not. Be not bitter against men. Be not angry if you are wronged. Forgive. . . .
“If you are penitent, you love.” Zossima continues. “And if you love, you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by love. If I, a sinner, even as you are, am tender with you and have pity on you, how much more will God? Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it, and expiate not only your own sins but the sins of others. Go ahead and be not afraid.” (New York: The Modern Library, p.51.)
That commandment to go, to move outward and upward with confidence in ‘God, is for the express of blessing others, of bringing others to the fullness of faith in God, and joy in the Gospel of Christ.~~~Patricia T. Holland (deceased) “On Earth as it is in Heaven” p.43-45
(Continued)
