“…God knows your hearts…” Luke 16:15

Our glass shower door is sometimes my best window into the hearts of my family. Emotions and feelings have a way of coming out as our minds wander in the steamy comfort and relative safety of our shower. When I find math facts in my daughter’s writing instead of her usual flowers and butterflies, I know she’s concerned about school. If the math is in Jim’s handwriting, I know budget and finances are on his mind. When it’s a drawing from my son, I see he’s trying to practice restraint – usually his imaginary explosions involve our shampoo and soap going down the drain.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a window into their souls to know the depths of their emotions and struggles. Nor can they see mine. It’s that way for all of us. We are never able to completely express to another person what is in our heart. Sometimes it leads us to be frustrated or angry. At other times, it causes us to be sad and lonely. And we’ve all had those days where we don’t even know what’s going on in our heart!

But it’s not true that no one knows our hearts. The Lord knows. He knows the truth of who we are and what we feel. We are never alone in our pain, doubts, struggles, loneliness, or frustrations.  We have a true friend who loves us deeply. He sees us where we are and He offers us hope and comfort. He offers us peace in the struggle and joy in the depression. He longs for us to draw near to Him so He can comfort us.

His comfort is always available. His arms are always open and He is always ready to provide exactly what you need.  But He leaves the choice up to you.  Will continue on in your own battle, losing against the darkness in your heart, or draw near to Him and accept His comfort?

This life is hard. The days are tough. You do not have to go it alone.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

I recently overheard my kids arguing because one of them “copycatted” the other during an art project. It’s funny how our natural instinct is to be original and not have our ideas stolen. We want to be the special person who came up with the idea. We also get upset when others take credit for our work.

In these ways we are so unlike, yet so similar to, Jesus.

We’re unlike Jesus in that instead of wanting us to find our own way and our own ideas; He wants us to be copy cats of Him. He wants us take His original, unique love for others and copy it. He desires for us to practice forgiveness with others, to sacrifice our wants to meet their needs, and to leave their judgment up to the Father.

Yet we’re similar to Jesus in that He doesn’t want others to take credit for His work either. As we are blessed with peace and provision, He doesn’t want us to credit chance, fortune, or luck. He wants us to credit Him as the giver of all good things. When we are able to help others, He doesn’t want us to take the credit and sound our own horn. He wants us to give Him the credit for not only providing us with something to give, but also with the desire in our heart to do so.

As you go through your day, ask yourself, “Am I doing a good job of copying Jesus today, or could I do better at showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?” And then do a mini-review at the end of the day asking yourself,”What has God done for me today? How did God help me to help others today? Did I give Him the credit?”

Since we’re created in God’s image and we have a sense of humor, I’m sure God does too. I think it would be fun to stand before Jesus in heaven and have him accuse us, with a gleam in His eye and a smile twitching at His lips, of being a copy-cat.