The Lord ’ s love is greater than anything we can imagine , tenderly caring for us in all stages of life . It comforts , it consoles , it warms us . But it does this with a mighty force , even sometimes in spite of ourselves .
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a person can ever believe .” ( Arcana Coelestia 2406:2 ) And the Lord ’ s efforts to draw us to heaven is “ by a mighty force ” ( Arcana Coelestia 1049 ), or “ by the strong force of love .” ( Ibid . 1735 )
The Lord ’ s love is greater than anything we can imagine , tenderly caring for us in all stages of life . It comforts , it consoles , it warms us . But it does this with a mighty force , even sometimes in spite of ourselves . And in this He takes a very strong hand – as strong as we will allow .
Being Led More Easily , or With Difficulty The bending of the Lord , from our perspective , can be a more gentle or turbulent process depending upon how we respond to it . Those “ who do not allow themselves to be driven by passion and falsity , are more easily led .” ( Spiritual Experiences 1936 ; see also Arcana Coelestia 736 , 1198 , 1679:2 , 7442:4 ; Apocalypse Explained 721:26 ) Our stubbornness , our trying to go against the current of the Lord ’ s leading , makes for a bumpier process . ( Spiritual Experiences 3024 )
And some evils are more difficult to wrestle with than others . The “ hardest of all combats is with the love of rule from the love of self . He who subdues this easily subdues all other evil loves , for this is their head .” ( Divine Providence 146 )
The more we work at trying to follow the Lord , the easier it can become . For example , “ actual repentance is easy for those who have now and then practiced it , but it is a very difficult task for those who have not .” ( True Christian Religion 561f )
Does this make it easier or harder on the Lord ? He is infinite and omnipresent , thus He is the same in Himself and as He flows out to people . ( Divine Love and Wisdom 77- 81 , 124 , 128 , 147 ) The only variation is in reception . So there can be the appearance that His life can be easier or harder . This is seen in the story of creation , on the seventh day , “ because the Lord then had rest .” ( Arcana Coelestia 10360 ; see also ibid . 85 , 8495:3 , 8510 , 10367:7 , 10730:2 ; Heaven and Hell 287 ; True Christian Religion 301 ) Certainly , the Lord ’ s infirm human did need rest between temptations , even as the Divine within was constantly guiding the universe . The Writings
The Lord ’ s love is greater than anything we can imagine , tenderly caring for us in all stages of life . It comforts , it consoles , it warms us . But it does this with a mighty force , even sometimes in spite of ourselves .
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