By  LPJ

Consumed. A word that stuck with me from a prayer said during a women’s bible study/fellowship I recently attended. It was a heartfelt prayer by the women’s pastor, Rolana Smith of the Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, before a quiet reflection that followed a teaching on Psalms’ lament. But I wanted to understand that word more, so I asked during our small group meeting.

I pondered over this word as an adjective. Collins Dictionary says that one who is “consumed with a feeling or idea is affected very strongly” (Collins’ sentence example: “He was consumed with jealousy.”). Dictionary.Com states that the verb consume means to deplete, engross, expend by use, spend wastefully, devour, destroy.

For me, consumed means being taken over, or allowing oneself to be overwhelmed.

Its negative slant points to being defeated by a weakness that slumps resistance or determination not to be sucked in. The sour implication denotes weakness leading to defeat or giving up a resolve. It transgresses the boundary of moderation or control. It practically means yielding to any worldly appetite or desire, to name a few — overeating, drinking alcohol to excess, binging, not trying due to fear or laziness, inviting misery over coveting what one can’t have, despairing over a loss.

Yet, another realization came to mind. What if being consumed can also be a good thing?  I think of it in the context of love. When love is genuine, faithful, steadfast and deep, being consumed in love becomes a virtue. Wouldn’t that be ideal for a relationship that rests on such love?  On the higher plane – wasn’t God our Father so consumed in His love for us that He sent His only son Jesus to come down to earth, become man, suffer and die on the cross for our redemption and the promise of life eternal in His kingdom? His promise was sealed in the resurrection. We can be consumed in or by the love of Jesus, and that, to me, is a very good thing.

So, am I on the fence about the word “consumed”? Hmmm … that depends …

I am thankful to be part of this women’s bible study fellowship. The messages, teachings and discussions feed our hunger to understand the word of God, and be guided in our ways by the truth. I come away from these meetings with much food for thought, helpful instruction, comforting inspiration, or simply, with words that make me contemplate their spiritual significance and insights valuable to my faith.

So, back to being consumed – it can be good or bad, as judged not by the ingratiating or material wisdom of the world, but by the wisdom that comes from God.

Linda P. Jacob