Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; 

and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him 

and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

for you are receiving the end result of your faith, 

the SALVATION of your souls.

(1 Peter 1:8-9)

It's not an easy task to be in submission to something greater than yourself.  To know reality, understand choices and the consequences of ones that don't line up with the natural order of that reality, to play the rules of the game.  It's easy to know, but not easy to do.

It's not an easy task to be in submission to someONE greater than yourself either.  To know He exists as a Creator without a shadow of a doubt from the evidence of the creation.  To know that following His way of "doing life" will ultimately keep you in a better, safer, and happier place throughout your days.  To be in "fear" of Him as you live in obedience to His calling.  But that doesn't mean it's easy, and it doesn't mean that you experience the kind of joy you WANT.

That's been my negative viewpoint this year.  It's all true! but that's not the end of the story... the difference between someTHING and someONE IS all the difference.  God is a God to be feared.  But He wants so much more for me than for me to just know reality, Him as Creator.  He wants me to know Him as so much more - because He IS so much more.  He wants me to know Him as my Saviour and my Help.  My Refuge and my Rock.  My Redeemer and my Shield.

He wants me to know Him as Creator - there's no way around this!  All men, angels and demons know this truth.

He wants me to know Him in a deeper way - in a relationship that not all peoples know is an option or understand how this could be.  He wants me to know Him.  To love Him.

No matter how we live - in obedience and submission or not - during our lives here, there's no way to pull ourselves out from underneath His governance, ownership, and headship over us.  We can fake it as much as we like, denounce as much as we want.  It gets us nowhere.

But to LOVE Him IS THE DIFFERENT STORY.  We can live in obedience in harmony with Him.  How?  When we begin to learn to know Him.  It starts a flicker of love in your heart that brings you to a place where submitting brings you the joy you were trying so hard to find elsewhere.  Trusting becomes a way of worship and adoration of One you love more than any other.

He asks: Though you have not seen me, my beloved, love me.  Though you do not see me, my child, believe in me.  Become like a child once again, like the day when you were without all your acquired baggage, lies, and preconceived notions... and BELIEVE.

His promise?  I will fill you with joy, cherished one.  Not just any joy, that won't do.  I will fill you with joy that nothing and no one else can give you - an inexpressible joy, a glorious joy.  And that's not all - no, you will receive the salvation of your soul.

Have faith, child.  You may be in despair looking at this world or looking into your own soul - but look to me.  For one day that glorious joy will become perfect in the light of MY glory and grace.