alone | Missing Pieces

Who are you? Do you know for sure? Before you write me off as crazy, let me say that most people do not have a clue who they are, or at least not who they were created to be. For many years, I did not realize who I was or, more accurately, who I am supposed to be. I did not realize how much more meaningful my life could be. Many times, I wondered if I had any purpose here on earth or if I was just a mistake. For years, I did not understand that I am of great importance and value to Someone.

I was in my late twenties, and my outlook was bleak. I was in a dark place, loaded down with burdens and responsibilities, wondering how I could make it even one more day. I was a divorced mom who had just lost another job. My young daughter and I were living far from family. I felt alone and abandoned, overwhelmed and terribly inadequate. My precious daughter deserved much more than I could give her. I wanted the very best for her, and at this point, I was not sure I could even provide the basics. I felt like an utter failure, worthless. I did not know where to turn. In desperation, I called a friend and poured out my troubles. She led me to Jesus. Thus began my journey into discovering who I really am. As I prayed, read Scripture, and interacted with my Savior, I learned that I am loved, accepted, and valued more than I could have ever dreamed possible.

The same is true for you. If you are feeling inadequate, unworthy, or unwanted, take the chance and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. You are worth so much to Jesus that He suffered and died to pay the debt for your sins so that you could be restored to Him and to His Father.

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 Peter 2:24– “[Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

You are not an accident or a mistake. You have not failed so miserably that you cannot be rescued and restored. It does not matter if others do not love you or even like you. You are precious in the sight of your Creator.

Romans 8:37-39 – “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Asking Jesus to be Lord of your life does not mean that you and your circumstances will be instantly perfect. God works in process. For example, if you plant a seed today, you will not see an adult plant producing flowers or fruit in an hour or even a week. It takes time for the process to unfold. As Jesus works through the process with you, you will get to know and trust Him. You will learn many things about God’s Kingdom in Heaven and how different it is from the way this world operates. The journey will take the rest of your life, and it may seem difficult and harsh at times, but every step will be worth the result. You will become the person you were designed to be, and you will know favor, glory, and blessing beyond what you can imagine. I speak from experience. I am not quite there yet, but I am much closer than when I began forty-five years ago. This world is not an easy place, but with Jesus at your side, you can become all that you were intended to be.

John 16:33—I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

I encourage you to ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to take over as Lord of your life. Ask Him to show you who you are to Him. Ask Him to teach His ways to you. Speak from your heart and be honest with Him. If you decide to invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then welcome, new Sister or Brother in Jesus! Please let me know of your decision so that I can pray for you. If you have questions about your walk with Jesus, please email me, and I will do my best to answer them. I encourage you to talk to Jesus, read the Bible, and ask Jesus to help you find other brothers and sisters in the faith. It is good to have guidance from those more experienced, and it is a joy to have others to encourage you, pray with you, and for you in your new life. Watch for upcoming articles that I hope will be helpful to you

Have you ever felt lonely or unappreciated? Have you ever been taken for granted or overlooked? Did you ever get the feeling that someone was being kind only for what they could get from you?

You are not alone. Not only are there countless others in the world who have had similar experiences, but there is One who is far greater than any of us who has experienced all of the above and more. One who loves far more than any of us can imagine.

Do you know that YHVH loves you whether or not you realize that He exists? He loves you even if you don’t love Him. He loves you even if you take advantage of His kindness, or if you take His blessings and protection for granted. His love endures even if you complain loudly that He’s not answering your latest request.

YHVH created a beautiful world for you to live in. Every good thing that you have ever had in your life came from Him. God loves you for who you are. He made you and is delighted with you.

So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures (James 1:16-18 MSG).

Just as we want to be appreciated and loved for ourselves, YHVH desires to be appreciated and loved for who He is. Thank Him every day for His many blessings and gifts. Tell Him that you love Him for who He is as well as for what He gives.

YHVH doesn’t need anything from us. He is totally self-sufficient. He does want something from us, though. He desires our love and our trust. He wants to have a relationship with us even though it will be a largely lopsided arrangement. He does most of the giving and we do most of the taking. YHVH never overlooks us and never takes any of us for granted.

Many people have been churchgoers for all or most of their lives, yet some have never experienced a one-on-one relationship with YHVH. If you feel that you have never encountered the one true God, call out to Him today. Even if it is just a whisper or a heart-cry, He will hear it. He is waiting every day and night to hear from you. You will never have to feel lonely or left out again. YHVH offers us genuine love that endures forever.