Jesus Loves Me this I Know

It has been a long time since I have given any thought to the children's songs I used to sing at church. At almost 30 I guess I assumed I was past them. And with three theology degrees I probably figured their theology wasn't up to the caliber that I needed. Or, maybe I have just been busy. I imagine that it is combination of those and other factors. Many of you may not have listened to them either unless you have children of your own. However, today I was watching some of a documentary and "Jesus Loves Me" played over the opening credits. The song was originally written I believe for a Sunday School teacher to teach a dying boy. And it is much longer than children sing in Sunday School. But if you grew up anywhere near the church you probably remember singing the first verse and the refrain.

"Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so."

For an adult, and a theologian, this seems rather trivial. Though it is famously the answer that Karl Barth, the great twentieth century theologian, to the question of the most important thing he has learned.

However, today this part of the song really struck me. Probably because of where I am in life. And probably because even though I enjoy thinking and knowing, I experience the world - in all her truth and beauty - by feeling. So recently when I haven't felt the presence of God and the love of Jesus in my heart I am tempted to believe that God doesn't exist and Jesus doesn't love me. Of course, I know this isn't true so I keep believing. Even though sometimes it is hard.

Here is where the song came in this morning. As I listened I was reminded that it doesn't matter what I feel. It even doesn't matter what theology I have learned about God - about his plans for my life. In this instance it doesn't matter what I know about God being in control of the good and the bad. All that matters is that Jesus loves me - And I know this not because of anything I feel - I know Jesus loves me because the Bible tells me so. Sometimes this is enough.

Reminds me as well of what Nouwen once wrote,

"Our emotional lives move up and down constantly. Sometimes we experience great mood: swings from excitement to depression, from joy to sorrow, from inner harmony to inner chaos. A little event, a word from someone, a disappointment in work, many things can trigger such mood swings. Mostly we have little control over these changes. It seems that they happen to us rather than being created by us.

Thus it is important to know that our emotional life is not the same as our spiritual life. Our spiritual life is the life of the Spirit of God within us. As we feel our emotions shift we must connect our spirits with the Spirit of God and remind ourselves that what we feel is not who we are. We are and remain, whatever our moods, God's beloved children."