Have You Ever Felt Alone?
Have you ever felt alone?
Sometimes it’s a misunderstanding or someone saying something hurtful when emotions are high, making you question whether they ever loved you.
Sometimes it’s trauma from your childhood, of someone saying you’re unlovable & too much trouble, destined to be alone.
Sometimes it’s feeling different from everyone around you, misunderstood & isolated.
Sometimes it’s just your brain playing tricks on you, Satan using your compromised emotional state of depression or otherwise to twist it into a web of lies that screams you’re in this alone.
And sometimes it’s your sin, the guilt that gnaws at you on the inside, yelling at you to maintain a distance from others to protect your indulgence in temptations.
Believable Lies Versus an Unbelievable TRUTH
Satan likes to isolate us. He likes to convince us that nobody will get it, that nobody will get us, that we’re too different, that nobody really cares or likes us… that we’re simply a burden to those we love.
But those are LIES.
Somebody DOES care.
A Call to Come Home
I have heard so many lessons on the prodigal son, in Luke 15, but it never dawned on me until recently that this story is not just encouraging those who don’t know Jesus to come to Him… it’s a call to the straying, wandering, dejected Christian.
It’s a call to come home.
Satan wants us to believe we’re beyond repair, that nobody will ever understand, that we’re beyond forgiveness… that we’re a burden better gone.
But God beckons. He whispers His love over us. He calls us home.
The Wayward Child
If you haven’t read the story, it’s a parable in the Bible that tells of a son who had wealth, but his greed & selfishness urged him to demand his inheritance given early so he could live how HE wanted on HIS terms.
And the father obliged. He gave the inheritance. And the son left, never to return, determined to finally live the way he wanted.
He squandered all of his money on foolish & shameful things. He lived it up, partied, & was probably riding high on popularity because of his flowing cash.
But then the money ran out…
And eventually, he was alone. No longer surrounded by the “friends” drawn in by his money… No longer understood or cared about by anyone nearby.
Facing the Pain
He wasn’t embraced by others to help him through his depravity. He was alone.
No longer cushioned by his money, he had no one to give handouts. He went from a life of luxury to feeding pigs, tempted by the slop that he fed them.
Alone, dejected, destitute, abandoned by friends, bridges all burned… he had nothing.
He was alone.
And in his pain, he began to realize that the servants of his father had more than he even had. So, he determined to return to his father, to beg to be his servant so that he could at least eat.
The Way Home
In his returning, I can only imagine his thoughts… probably rehearsing in his head how he would convince his father to let him serve him… to cover his tracks of all he had messed up & wasted… how he had rejected his father & taken advantage of his generosity… playing it over in his head, waiting in the journey to face his father again.
And when he arrived home, he saw it. His father’s face from afar, a look of recognition washing over him.
And what was that? Not anger or rage? Not hurt & rejection? Not a shaking of the head, as if to say, “What are you doing here? What do you want?”
No… it was joy. Pure, unmasked joy… & LOVE… relief.
An Unexpected Welcome
His father was running toward him then… arms wide… almost tripping over himself as if he couldn’t run nearly as fast as he wanted to.
And then the embrace… the tears of joy.
The forgiveness.
No questions… no answering for what he had wasted… just forgiveness & joy & LOVE.
The father draped his robe over his wandering son’s shoulders & placed his family ring on his finger & called the servants to prepare a feast… a party to welcome home his son…
Because he was lost, but now is found.
He was welcomed home… after all he had done… deserving none of it… he was welcomed home.
An Unimaginable LOVE
This story is a parable, told to point to a specific Truth about God… & it seems obvious here that He, as our heavenly Father, is often taken advantage of & recklessly abandoned by us as His dear children… but that His love & faithfulness toward us remains unaltered.
And that’s God’s love for you, too.
He sees you. He knows what you’ve done. He understands your traumas & scars & hurts & anger & wrongs.
He sees you. Not sugar-coated you, but the REAL you. He understands you.
And He’s there, never to leave you or forsake you… faithful to the end, even when you’re not.
He loves you.
He is there for you.
He never will leave you.
He gets you like no one ever will.
You’re not alone. EVER. (No matter what Satan lies say to you.)
Because your Father in Heaven LOVES you. Always. No matter what.
Our Awesome God
THAT is the God that we serve. Our Father. Our Redeemer. Our LOVE.
If you feel alone, come home. He made you, knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are His workmanship, designed with a plan just for you, & redeemed by Jesus, who died on your behalf before you even accepted Him.
So, shine HOPE. Shine for Him… & invite others home again, too.
Because–oh how great His love is for YOU!
You are NEVER alone.
Coming Next Week
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As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
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This blog/website has been running for over TWO years now! THANK YOU for your continued support & encouragement. <3
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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Silver Medallion Necklace (India)
This textured silver-tone chain from India can be worn separately or layered with other necklaces from our One World Collection. The uniquely textured pendant adds the perfect artistic touch. Three length options allow you to choose your comfort and style. Every necklace has variations as a part of the Artisan-made charm! Every purchase provides fair-trade jobs in areas of extreme poverty in India.
How You Can Help:
SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
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