hope | 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

When Yeshua went to the cross, it seemed like total defeat. His own chosen people whom for centuries He had loved and prepared to receive Him as Messiah rejected Him (Luke 23:18-25). He came to share Good News, the best news with them. He fed them, taught them, healed them, freed them from demonic oppression, comforted them, yet they rejected Him. He was betrayed by one of His own followers, one in a group that He had held especially close and dear (Luke 22:47-48). The rest of that special little group was scattered after His arrest, one denying that He even knew Him (Matt 26:69-75). His so-called trial was a sham. Those conducting it broke just about every one of their rules for conducting a trial. He was cruelly beaten and whipped, crucified, mocked, and humiliated in every way by the very people He came to save. At the end, it seemed that even His Father had abandoned Him (Ps. 22:1). At any time, did He ever wonder what was the point? Why had He gone to the trouble of becoming one of us, to suffer with us and to serve us, when we were already His enemies and there seemed little likelihood of anyone being willing to commit themselves to faithfully following Him? Yet, despite the discouragement and pain that He suffered, He continued with His mission and poured Himself out as the perfect sacrifice that would pay our otherwise impossible debt and cleanse us from unrighteousness. In the end, His broken body was taken down and placed in a burial cave. Everything seemed hopeless.

After three days and three nights in the grave, a remarkable thing happened: Yeshua was resurrected! His body was no longer broken, but was whole and now immortal. Death had not defeated Him, rather He had defeated death! His humiliation was now His glory (Phil 2:8-11). His brokenness was now impenetrable wholeness. Now, instead of rejection, countless people have clamored for Him through the centuries and still do today! Many people have willingly suffered much and have even been martyred rather than be separated from Yeshua. In fact, today there are people in over 150 countries who are suffering much persecution because they refuse to abandon Yeshua. His supposed defeat is now revealed as the greatest victory ever.

Even though Yeshua’s death seemed an indication of failure and defeat, it was really the greatest triumph of all time. What does that mean for us? Our sins can be forgiven when we sincerely desire it, our debt paid in full, and we are rescued from the clutches of our enemies. Our greatest defeat may turn out to be our greatest triumph. When we have loved and served Yeshua only to be disregarded or even shunned by others, we find that we are valued and highly esteemed by the only One whose opinion truly matters. When we are betrayed by the very ones on earth who should love and support us, we are loved, cherished, nurtured and protected by Yehovah who created us. We may do all that we can to advance the Kingdom of Yehovah on earth and it may seem that all our efforts have been futile, but perhaps we are not yet able to see the whole picture. Maybe our efforts will bear good fruit even after we are gone. Just like Yeshua our mortal bodies will also be replaced with immortal bodies at our resurrection (1 Cor. 15:53). Our so-called defeat will become our victory!

Yeshua sits at the right hand of Yehovah in glory and splendor (Rom 8:34; Mark 16:19). If we remain faithful to Yehovah, we have a place with Yeshua in His glory (Eph 2:6). Yeshua became like us so that we could become like Him. Through our suffering, we are tried and tested and prepared to be effective citizens in the Kingdom of Yehovah. Right now in this world there is ever-increasing darkness and evil. Yeshua warned us that there would be tribulation, but that we should be encouraged because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Sha’ul (Paul) tells us that our present suffering is not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us later (Rom 8:18). With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can endure to the end, just as Yeshua did. There is hope for us, even in our darkest hours.