“And you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. -1Corinthians 6:19‭-‬20

I saw you slip into a chair at the table, then sitting there by yourself. In the little time we had to chat, I could tell you were lonely and the sadness in your voice confirmed that. You seemed desperate, wanting to be friends, yet you hesitated not knowing whether you could trust me. In my spirit, I could tell you longed to know you were loved and that you belonged. We parted ways but I will never forget you. Our paths crossing was not mere coincidence, it was by divine appointment. If not for both of us, then certainly for me.

I want to tell you, I can relate, relate because I was that person. So if you will allow me to share a few things with you, some things that I have experienced, learned, and still am learning on this journey of life.

Deep within each of us are desires and two of them are, to Be Loved and to know We Belong. These two desires are absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. The Father created us for relationships, and it truly is a beautiful thing

” For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well”
Psalms 139:13‭-‬14

Now throughout our journey through life, there will be heartache and hurts, and each time we get hurt emotionally or even physically, and we don’t know how to properly “handle or process” the pain another wall goes up in our heart, because it hurts, and when something is painful our tendency is to make sure it doesn’t hurt again, even if it’s not the best way to prevent it. Then from these hurts, stem lies straight from the pit of hell, and a seemingly endless cycle starts, where you are hurting and so you (often unintentionally) hurt others to cover that pain.

Just hours after I met you today, I was reminded of an incident that happened a number of years ago, at a time when I didn’t even recognize that rejection and loneliness were such a huge part of my life.

It was a Friday night, friends were gathering for an evening of food and games, and I being invited, had already committed to being there. I get to the location where the event was planned and because of the loneliness within my own heart and spirit and the lies the enemy was making me believe, I could not even get out of my own car. I actually left and went back home, crying most of the way home.

It wasn’t that anyone had talked to me, or even knew I had been there. The pain of having been rejected in the past was so real in my heart, and I was so lonely that it forced me to give up, what should have been an evening of fellowship and fun.

Although the enemy may have won that evening, the Father has the final word! He has healed me from That! There is Victory in the Finished work on the Cross! HALLELUJAH!

But now, thus says the Lord, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.”-Isaiah 43:1

My friends, I want you to hear this: “You Belong” I know your heart is hurting, there’s pain, but I want you to know “You Belong” The Father created you with specific purpose, in fact He knew what each day of your life would be like, before He even formed you. He cares about every detail about you, and He wants to give all pain to Him, so He can heal you!

“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” -Psalm 100:3