#Write28Days
He came with an infection on his leg that had been there a while. The days and nights he’d spent in the dark, cold streets of Prague were beginning to show. He was only 22 but he seemed to have given up on life.
We’d brought him to our home for Christmas in hopes that Ales* might know the love of God. We didn’t think he’d come but he did and spent three days with us. On Christmas Eve after our kids had gone to sleep, we sat down with him and prayed.
And as we did, I couldn’t help but weep. I cried out to God to show him how much He loved him. Ales wasn’t created to be abandoned at a children’s home at age 3 nor was he made to live in the underworld of Prague nor to be rejected by his father and mother.
As a mama of three, it was easy for me to see — to truly believe that God had something much better in plan when He created Ales. It was easy for me to believe that Ales was created to be a child of God — infinitely loved and accepted by our Heavenly Father.
He stayed up watching the movies we gave him — the JESUS film, the Bridge and the Chronicles of Narnia — The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. We’d hoped that somehow with the Holy Spirit’s help he would see and understand the message of God’s love.
That first Christmas when he came to our home — Ales had said, he wasn’t sure he could believe. And we told him it was okay — God loved him anyway and so did we.
Maybe like Ales, you are at a point where even believing with your mind that God loves you is not possible right now. If that’s you, my heart goes out to you, friend. But there is hope. Because I know without a shadow of doubt that our Heavenly Father knows and cares about you. Maybe you can begin with this today: give God your unbelief. Imagine raising your cupped hands holding whatever it is that keeps you from believing. Then open your hands before Him. He knows what hinders you from believing.
Click here to download this as a free printable image.
Draw near to God
Whatever small step you can take today — God will take strides that spans the universe and eternity to meet you right where you are. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. It’s His promise to you.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Jas. 4:8
Maybe you believe with your head that God loves you but your heart hasn’t received the message yet. I pray today that as you meditate on these truths of God’s Word, you will let them sink deep into your heart. Invite the Holy Spirit to pour His love into your heart.
“God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Ro. 5:5
Believing in God is not just a religious act; it’s a relationship — the most vibrant, life-giving relationship we can experience on this side of eternity. With God’s help we can choose to believe today (whether we feel it or not) that God loves us and He loves us and He loves us.
“For God so loved the world (you) that He gave His one and only Son.” Jn. 3:16
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 Jn. 4:10
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jer.31:3
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Eph. 1:6
*Ales is not his real name.
Read part 2 of Ales’s story here.
This post is part of a 28-day series. To read the other posts go here.
In the middle of everything life throws at me sometime I lose track that God really loves me. Thanks for the reminder.
You are bold. Where most would not take in a stranger, you did. Bless you in your boldness!