To The Struggling

Life isn't what it's always cracked up to be, I know. Sometimes we feel broken or unworthy or shameful... And that we are stuck where we are, in our shame, with no way out.

The Myth

We get this odd idea that God doesn't like us and that he's just putting up with us. We get this idea that if we could just be better then we are now he would finally like us... How wrong are we... And yes I say we because you're not alone.

The Truth

So how does God feel about those who have put their faith in Him? Proverbs 3:11-12 tells us He loves us like a father loves His son... Like family.

Today for my education class we started watching a movie called Ron Clarke. It's about a teacher who decides to teach a 6th grade class in the ghetto of New York City. At the point of Mr. Clark's arrival the class had already been through 6 teachers. When Mr. Clarke begins teaching his first rule is "We are family". He explains how that means he will never give up on them and they are supposed to never give up on him.

There is one girl named Shameka in the class that disrespects Mr. Clarke more than any other student. She never turns in her homework and is always being a pain. Mr. Clarke continues to chase after Shameka knowing that she has the most potential in the class. One day after school Shameka misses a study session with Mr. Clarke so he decides to help her at her house. Shamekas continual excuse is that she is too busy for homework. Mr. Clarke finally sees it for himself when Shameka starts making dinner for 4 of her siblings. Mr. Clarke takes her duty so she can finish her paper when her mother walks in the door. Extremely upset, Shamekas mother kicks Mr. Clarke out of her home and then tries to get him fired.

Mr. Clarke, Shameka, her mother, and the school principal are all in the principals office. Just as Mr. Clarke is fired and Shameka and her mother begin to leave, Shameka runs back in and hugs Mr. Clarke as she pleads her case for him not to be fired...

What happened to Shameka?

Grace did. Despite all her disrespect, Mr. Clarke continued to pursue her and love her just as he said he would... Like family. God is doing the same with us. We may not be the people we want to be today... We may feel unworthy but God isn't going anywhere. It is because of that grace that we run to Him, just as a son/daughter would run to their father in a time of need.

This is why Jesus is my Superman... He saved me despite how much I didn't deserve it... You're no different.

How can we do life well in this case? Run to God, not from Him. He's waiting.