by Bill Morgan, CVCYouth LifeGroup Leader
I recently had lunch with an old friend. He and I used to attend the same church, and both of us had large families. From the outside looking in, we were both solid in our faith and our families were in good order.
Circumstances led us in different directions and I heard through mutual friends that he and his family were breaking apart. I finally heard all the details when we sat down to talk last week. It was very sad and at times hard to listen to.
He has moved on and is doing his best to make sense of it all. I sense he has drifted from the Lord. He shared with me three things he has learned through this terrible season of his life.
- First, somewhere around age 4 or 5 he developed the belief that he was not enough. That was the age when his mother went back to work. He believed that since his mother went back to work, that he wasn’t enough for her to stay home.
- Second, around the age of 7 or 8, he realized that he didn’t belong. He had to endure some very mean and cruel teasing from his fellow classmates at school.
- And third, when he was 10 he came to the conclusion that he had to go it alone in life.
That is some kind of narrative. In God’s economy, they’re actually myths: you are not enough, you don’t belong, and you are on your own.
I have been carrying my friend’s remarks around in my head for a few days. Whereas I don’t believe his perspective is the norm for all people, I suspect this may be true for many.
Did God leave us in this state of misery? Of course not. Let’s de-bunk they myths.
The fact is, we are not enough. We are sinners deserving the wrath and curse of God. Yet if we believe and trust in Jesus, we are declared righteous before God.
We are taught that we do not belong on this earth, but we have a home waiting for us in heaven.
Finally: we don’t have to do it alone. Praise God for restoration to Himself through Jesus, and for provision in church community through our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are His beloved children.
