“Shh…” is what my insides wanted to yell to the kids upstairs. The last thing I wanted was for them to mess up my friend’s husband’s Zoom call. He needed quiet.
So, we shuttled the kids downstairs.
Before long, the hour passed and the man — done with his video that was conducted one flight above the absolute ball the kids were having downstairs — said he was leaving the house.
Oh no. Did we wreck his call? Were we too loud?
“Bye,” my friend atold him as he headed out the door, adding something like, “I’m glad your Zoom call is done.”
He laughed an odd laugh.
And at this point, I was sure we’d ruined his call. Ugh. That they would never want to have us over again. That he was upset.
Looking at my friend, I asked, “Is he upset?”
“No, he is not upset at all. He just laughs about doing these calls at home.”
I was completely misguided in my interpretation of his laugh. But she understood him because she knew him.
Knowing someone makes all the difference in understanding them. It also gives context as to what the person is doing. Whereas I thought my friend’s husband was leaving because he was upset; he was fine. Without the intimacy of relationship, the moves another makes can be misinterpreted.
How often do we misinterpret God’s intent? How often do we figure God is out to harm us when He is really out to help us?
There is power in regularly praying this prayer over ourselves:
“. . . And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19 NIV)
When we know God’s ways intimately, we better understand God’s heart. When we know God’s love, we understand how He is leading us into a fullness in this world, rather than destitute barrenness. When we know God cares, suddenly we don’t feel so alone.
Ask to know God more, because to know God deeply, is to trust Him all the more.
Let’s pray:
Father God, I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and that we will know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19 NIV) For you are Love. Help us to know you as love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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