Disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments in life; it means being free from these deceptions. However, though no longer deceived, our experience of disillusionment may actually leave us cynical and overly critical in our judgment of others. But the disillusionment that comes from God brings us to the point where we see people as they really are, yet without any cynicism or any stinging and bitter criticism. Many of the things in life that inflict the greatest injury, grief, or pain, stem from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts, seeing each other as we really are; we are only true to our misconceived ideas of one another. According to our thinking, everything is either delightful and good, or it is evil, malicious, and cowardly.Refusing to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering of human life. And this is how that suffering happens— if we love someone, but do not love God, we demand total perfection and righteousness from that person, and when we do not get it we become cruel and vindictive; yet we are demanding of a human being something which he or she cannot possibly give. There is only one Being who can completely satisfy to the absolute depth of the hurting human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord is so obviously uncompromising with regard to every human relationship because He knows that every relationship that is not based on faithfulness to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no one, and never placed His faith in people, yet He was never suspicious or bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God, and in what God’s grace could do for anyone, was so perfect that He never despaired, never giving up hope for any person. If our trust is placed in human beings, we will end up despairing of everyone.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

July 30, 2014

Lord, this lesson seems pretty straightforward; do not expect too much of others, or myself. When others fail us or do not meet our expectations, we are to offer the same grace and forgiveness that You offer and provide us.   As the song says, “we’re all broken but we are in this together, God knows we stumble and fall.” Thank You for reminding me to extend the very same grace and forgiveness to others that You have given me; and please help me to extend the very same to myself.

And God says…”Sometimes you can be easier on your friends and family than you are on yourself. Sometimes you can let your friends “off the hook” but then hold your family “more accountable”. You are all broken and in need of my grace and mercy. Jesus’s prayer reminds you to forgive others as you would like to be forgiven. And often forgiving yourself is a very difficult thing to do.  The way to live this out, is , once again, to be connected to Me, be curious about how I will deal with the circumstance, and remain expectant, knowing that I will meet all your needs according to My riches in heaven.”