Lent - Belonging to God

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me."
~ Psalm 15:5 - 6

I can remember following an illness ten years ago when I found myself unemployed, uninsured, and basically homeless, I walked into a colleague's office sharing, "Who am I now?"

I had placed all my identity on my work, role as a parent, where I lived, and how I lived.  Having lost everything that I had worked for left me feeling completely "unattached," from who I was "supposed," to be.

As she sat and listened, she held my hand and then reminded me, "You are not what you do.  You are not identified by where you live.  You are not the successes you have had.  You are also not what people have to say about you.  I am here to remind you that you are a beloved child of God."

I just remember weeping as she hugged me, and then reminded me, "Everything that you know about yourself you have learned throughout all the chapters of your life.  We are Ecclesiastical people with many seasons and chapters.  Each one is important, and each one has meaning, but no where in all of your successes and failures did you ever lose your place as one of God's children."

It's funny how the season of Lent brings me back to that moment when I remember the place where I was in my life at that time, and how her words changed the way that I looked at myself and others.  She then pulled out her Bible and wrote down a verse for me that I carried in my wallet for the longest time that reminded me of this day, but also these words from Isaiah, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." (Isaiah 49:16)

We are always connected to God.  Not only do we carry the breath of God within us, and bear the image of God, but our names are forever written in the palm of God's hands.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2020