LEt God Love You Like God Wants To Love You

Henri Nouwen writes, “I know that true joy comes from letting God love me the way God wants, whether it is through illness or health, failure or success, poverty or wealth, rejection or praise. It is hard for me to say, “I shall gratefully accept everything, Lord, that pleases you. Let your will be done.” But I know that when I truly believe my Father is pure love, it will become increasingly possible to say these words from the heart.”

Look, I don’t know how God does this loving thing that God does. I can only share what has been given to me in the way of life. Like a cooling balm on my burnt skin or a warm blanket when the goosebumps appear, God’s love is felt when I least expect it. Not so much when I cry out, or scream at the stars, or stomp my feet. Yes, God’s love is there, only I can’t see it.​ But when I give over to the pain, the poverty, and the promise...and sit there without expectations do I feel the embrace. I think God is telling us to sit still, let go and let your heart be filled. This is a great way to praise God, pray to God, and to be loved by God.

Charles de Foucauld once wrote a prayer of abandonment that expresses beautifully the spiritual attitude I wish I had.

Father, I abandon myself into your hands,
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you;
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.

I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.