A returning soldier from the Vietnam war stood in a California phone booth, placing a call to his high society Boston family. His Mom was full of instant delight when she heard the voice of her son. Eventually, the son got to the purpose of the call.“Mom, I’d like very much to bring a buddy home with me.”
“That would be fine, son. We’d love to have one of your buddies visit.”
“Mom, I want you to understand something about him. He doesn’t have a right arm. He doesn’t have a right leg. He doesn’t have a right eye. His face is terribly disfigured.”
“Well, okay. Thanks for warning us, how long will he be visiting?
“Mom, you still don’t understand. I want him to live with us. I want him to be part of the family. I want it to be permanent.”
“Well son, I don’t know about permanent. After all, I’m not sure…..” Click. The son had hung up.
A few hours later that same phone rang in Boston. It was a police sergeant in California. “We have a young man here who has one arm and one leg. The identification shows that he is your son. He’s just taken his own life.”
It was too painful for this son to ask directly if he would still be loved and respected, despite his terrible disfigurement.
We have terribly marred the holy image of God in us. Feeling repulsive in our sin, and ashamed of our failure, we don’t feel worthy of being loved by anyone, much less by a holy God—not if they get a glimpse of how disfigured we really are. Our shame drives us further into ourselves.
Into the abyss of this downward discouragement, Paul shouts these words: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
It may not feel that way, but God is FOR US. He wants us to succeed! He wants our efforts to be fruitful! He wants to bless us with good things because all fathers love to give good gifts to their children. He wants our life to be fulfilling. He wants what is best for us. HE’S ON OUR SIDE!
It is natural to be disappointed and lose heart when our efforts don’t bear fruit. But don’t let the Evil One use those times to drag you into the deeper emotional pit of thinking God doesn’t care about you. That is a lie. You are a delight to him!! And he is not ashamed of you, even when you fail.
