The ultimate reward: Love that triumphs over tragedy.

Countless are the stories and novels written about how love triumphs over all difficulties. In real life, though, I can’t think of a more significant story of love and forgiveness than that of Corrie Ten Boom and her meeting in a church in Holland with a German soldier from the Ravensbrück concentration camp, where she and her sister, Betsy had been held prisoners during World War II, that terrible place where Betsy died at the hands of German guards. This man was one of them. After talking in that church (precisely about forgiveness), that man approached her, and though he did not recognize her, he extended his arm and asked for forgiveness for his past actions. He had converted after the war and was seeking forgiveness for what he had done. But she did recognize him. She tells in her book. The Hiding Place, that when she saw the man’s hand, the memories of the cruelties she had endured in the concentration camp kept her own hand hidden, clutching her purse. “Lord, I can do this. I can extend my hand. I can do this, but you have to provide the emotion.”

But forgiveness cannot come without love. Love is the catalyst of forgiveness. Fear is the catalyst of hate and resentment. Naomi’s fear of dying alone could have promoted hate and resentment toward the Moabites, the women in Bethlehem, and even God. Ruth’s fear of seeing herself forsaken by her own people for following Naomi, for seeing herself in limbo, without an identity or future, could have caused hate and resentment. Boaz could have taken advantage of Ruth’s vulnerability at the threshing floor and used her for his own pleasure; after all, he was not the immediate redeemer anyway.

But love casts out all fear. That’s why it can triumph over tragedy. Because, when a human being yields to the unconditional love of God, and that unconditional love shows itself in unconditional love for others, there is no other power that can make us overcome any tragedy and come out better than when we came in. We extend our hand. God provides the emotion. My dear sister, read 1 Corinthians 13 one more time for the first time. Let the words permeate your mind. Don’t doubt anymore. You are the daughter of the King. You don’t have to live like a commoner. #getittogethergirl. Remember that it was God’s love that brought you thus far, and it is God’s love that will make you triumph over any circumstance. God’s unconditional love in Christ will help you make any decision you have to make. God’s unconditional love in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, will give you the strength to do what you have to do to make it happen. And that same unconditional love will give you the rest that your soul needs, and the reward of seeing His hand at work in your favor.

Father, thank you for your perfect and unconditional love. Thank you that regardless of the way I have walked, your hand has always been with me. I only ask that you accept me and take me, and take my work and bless it, and give me the peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that your love will overcome every tragedy, difficulty, or trial that comes to my life. Glorify yourself in me. Help me #getittogether so the world can see that I am the daughter of the Most High King, that I am a member of the highest royalty known to man. May your power be manifested in my weakness. May your love break through every fear barrier. And may I say at the end of my life, “I have fought the good fight, I  have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).

My reflection:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13

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SUMMARY

I can’t believe you have finished this 40-day journey! Now, why don’t you take a day, or two, or three? Pray and/or fast, if you practice it. Ask God to guide you if you have not done it throughout the journey. Ask him to help you make that decision you know you have to make, and it has been in your heart all along. Ask him for the strength to do the work. Ask him that, once finished, he will give you the rest you need and the reward He wants to give you. Keep in mind that the reward may not look like what you have in mind, but it will always be the best option.

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