We Are Not Alone

John 16:32-33 MSG

I once knew a young woman who came to me because her own people had abandoned her. She didn’t have to tell me why because her belly was full with child.

She told me she was sixteen.

Her community of faith abandoned her.

She wanted to talk about Jesus. She wanted to hear that Jesus still loved her.

I told her Jesus did love her and would be with her in the days, months, and years to come but that Jesus was sad. She said she knew she did a bad thing. I smiled and told her the sorrow Jesus felt didn’t have anything to do with her or her baby.

See when I prayed for her I realized Jesus was sad because her people had failed her. They judged her and did not love her as Jesus wanted them to love.

I told her Jesus had not and would not abandoned her but Jesus was with her and would be with her every step of the way.

In John 16:32-33 we are told, “I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

Jesus understood what it felt like to be alone in the world, but Jesus knew no matter what He was not alone.

After she left that day I told her she was welcome to come again.

She never returned, but from time to time through the years when God brings her to mind I pray for her. I pray that she will feel accepted and loved by Jesus even if she is scorned by the world.

Today she would be in her mid to late fifties and her child would be around forty. I pray that they both found acceptance because of Jesus.

Her appearance in my life had a great impact on me.

God was showing me how the sin of judging others for their deeds hurts the world. The day she came to me I knew Jesus had forgiven her because she turned to Him. I knew the only sin Jesus could not overcome was unbelief.

If we believe in Jesus and turn to Jesus everything will be forgiven.

Through many decades in ministry I had others come to me to ask if Jesus really forgives. My answer was always the same…if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus will forgive.

I’ve always believed the struggle Jesus has is with those who will not forgive others. They seek forgiveness for themselves but they do not believe Jesus has the power to forgive everyone. They seemed to thing in order to receive forgiveness you have to outwardly look like you deserve forgiveness.

That is a lie that the evil of this world spins.

Truth is Jesus and Jesus is truth. When we truly turn to Jesus and surrender we are forgiven. That is what my young visitor did. She turned to Jesus.

My continued struggle and source of prayer is with those who do not turn to Jesus. Oh, they may look good and holy on the outside but is their goodness of God or is it in the “self” within. Turning to Jesus…really turning solves my question, my struggle.

All who turn regardless of their sin will find Jesus waiting to receive His love.

There are no exceptions.

I

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com