Book Reflection: Abide Ch. 8
“Jesus wants to come into all the places in our lives where we have deficiencies and didn’t get what we needed to thrive. Not only can He bring comfort and peace to those places within our hearts, but also He can heal and transform them so we can live in freedom as sons and daughters of a faithful Father.”
Heather Khym
Chapter 8: Jesus the Life
We all need nourishment to thrive, not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. A secured identity and understanding our human nature are fundamental to our well-being.
Our ability to feel secure in our relationships, especially with our parents or caregivers, plays a crucial role in our development as adults. Just as a house needs a strong foundation to withstand the forces of nature, we need firm foundations in our lives to grow and flourish. When our needs are met by those who are healthy and nurturing, we become more secure in who we are.
Our experiences as children significantly affect our emotional maturity as adults. Perhaps we didn't have the best relationship with our parents, but they did their best with what they had. As parents, we might unintentionally repeat patterns because we didn't know any better. Traumatic situations might have left deep scars, but in all things, God desires to heal us.
Acknowledging our need for healing is an act of humility and an invitation for Christ to come and restore us. Whatever we may have lost in the past can be found in God. If we weren't able to develop secure attachments with others, God can help restore that deficiency by attaching us to Him.
When our needs are unmet, it can be challenging to move forward and grow. However, when we allow God to meet our needs, He will fill what is lacking. This divine restoration leads us to maturity and growth. God is healthy, stable, and a good Father. If we cling to Him, He will restore us to full health, stability, and security.
It is essential for us to grow in self-knowledge and acknowledge all parts of our story. Seeking counseling can help us understand where we need healing, while coaching can help us move forward. It's important not to focus so much on our wounds that we become stuck. We are not defined by our past or our sins; we are defined by our identity in God as His children.
When we abide in God, our movement is drawn outward. In contrast, self-absorption traps us in a cycle of unhealthy behavior. By imitating Christ and becoming more like Him, we become who we are meant to be, resulting in a fuller, more vibrant life.
True joy comes from an identity rooted in God. Our joy will be complete as we abide in Him (John 15:11). The Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life (Lumen Gentium, 11), nourishes us in this journey, sustaining us with the grace we need to grow and thrive.
In embracing our identity in God and allowing Him to heal and restore us, we find the nourishment our souls need to flourish, leading us to true joy and a fulfilling life.
ponder
Do we know that there is still a part of us that is a child, needing to be fathered by God?
What words of delight and love do you desire to hear from God the Father?
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