"For we by sin and wretchedness have in us a wretched and continuant contrariness to peace and to love. (Yet) shewed He full often.. His lovely Regard of Ruth and Pity."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 48)
He loved us even to the death, even when we in our misguided rage put Him to death on the cross. He forgave us, loved us, accepted us even at that horrible moment. When we did our worst to Him in all our confused frustration, He did His best to us and forgave the whole world! Whatever wrath or stubbornness or unkindness we feel inside or lash out with toward God or others or ourselves, He has already forgiven. He even says there is nothing to forgive, for we don't know what we are doing. We are little children who are hurt and confused by the lies we have been told of God being angry and of us being unworthy and unlovable. We have lashed out like little children in a tantrum of confused rage and hurt and He, Pure Love, doesn't hold it against us. He doesn't even see our anger, tantrums or hatred. He only sees His beloved children trapped in confused thinking, trapped in systems of judgment and division. He only looks on us with the eyes of love and compassion, only acts towards us with love and compassion. And His loving act towards us is to free us from the bondage to lies and wrong thinking, this way of sin that leads only to destruction. Athanasius of Alexandria spoke of this when he wrote that Christ came "to set free all beings in Himself, to lead the world to the Father and to pacify all beings in Himself." So Christ did not go to the cross to pacify a raging God but to pacify a confused and hurting humanity that was raging against the very One who had nothing but love to offer. He understood that we were wounded kids who didn't know what we were even doing. He came as a propitiation for our sin, a turning away or assuaging or pacifying of OUR wrath, not God's!
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2 (KJV)
A Prayer: Thank You for understanding and forgiving the wrath and struggle I sometimes feel inside! Thank You that all my sin is gone, taken away at the cross!