Miranda angrily shook her head, eyes flashing as she read the text message on her phone.
Are you kidding me? she thought. God doesn’t want me now.
She knew her friend on the other side of the words meant well, but really, she’d turned her back on God a long time ago, a lifetime ago, it felt to this young woman.
Ding.
Another text notification. Glancing at her phone, she sighed, Will she never give up?
Read Nehemiah 9:27b- 31.
Really? She stared at the phone remembering the warm hugs and constant encouragement; she felt her heart soften. Looking online for a Bible site, she found Nehemiah.
“In their time of distress they cried out to You, and You heard from heaven. In Your abundant compassion You gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the powers of their enemies.”
She knew enough bible history to recall who these rescued people were: the Israelites. They had a history of walking with God, turning from God, then repenting and walking with God, then turning from God.
A pattern she knew well from personal experience.
“When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven and rescued them many times in Your compassion.” (v 28b)
She read through verse 29, key concepts leaping from the screen: You warned, they acted arrogantly, disobediently. They sinned, resisted You stubbornly.
You were patient.
Your spirit warned, but they would not listen.
Verse 31 almost stopped her heart: “However, in Your abundant compassion, You did not destroy them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God
He was waiting for an invitation, Miranda thought, tears blurring the words on the screen.
God was patiently waiting for an invitation back into their lives. No matter what idols they built, or sought, or worshipped.
Her heart quaked at the next thought. Could He be waiting for me to invite Him back into my life?
That overwhelmed her as she recounted how she’d lived life after kicking God out.
He can’t care for me now, she thought, almost digesting the lie the Enemy fed her.
But Truth won out. She had been wrong, but He was waiting. It was time to make things right.
Reflections:
How have I turned away, believing the lie that God wouldn’t want me now?
What do I need to do to make amends?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, How easily I can get sidetracked, focusing on others things, other relationships, other priorities, other than You. When that distance builds and it’s been a while since I was close to You, it seems easy to believe You wouldn’t want me. Remind me of Your truth. You always want me. No matter what. My choices may separate us, but just as a loving Father, You are waiting for my return with open arms. Thank You for being such a good father, In Jesus’ name, Amen.