Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. You might wonder why I would be concerned about you. You might even say, “I don’t know you, so why would you be all up in my business?”

Well, I might not know you personally, but I am a part of you, and you are a part of me. You are my family. We may not share the same DNA or biological parents, but you are still my family.

You know why? Because we share the same Father. Our Father is GOD. He wants us to love one another.

Oh, you don’t know God? You don’t believe in Him? You don’t trust Him? Well, guess what — GOD loves you.

You doubt that? You think that because you’ve gone through so much trauma, pain, and disappointment that GOD can’t love you? Do you think that because you’ve done unspeakable things that GOD doesn’t claim you?

You couldn’t be further from the truth. He called you. He justified you. He calls you His own. He knew you before you were formed — in fact, He formed you.

How do I know that? Because GOD doesn’t discriminate like man or this world does. He doesn’t see one child as better or more deserving than another. He doesn’t hold our mistakes against us or judge us by the things we’ve said, done, or had done to us.

GOD loved us so much that He gave us a sacrifice. A sacrifice is the offering of something precious — something deeply important. It’s like giving someone your last piece of bread when that’s all you have left. Or driving someone to the doctor when you only have enough gas for one trip to work, but you know they need help and no one else is available.

A real sacrifice costs something. If you have four cars and give one away, that’s generous, but not sacrificial — you still have three left. But if you give away your only working car to a struggling family with no money or transportation, that’s sacrifice.

That’s the kind of sacrifice GOD made for us. He had one begotten Son — not two or three to spare. GOD gave His only Son to die for us.

Can you imagine carrying a child for nine months, enduring the pain of labor, bonding with that beautiful life growing inside you — only to bring that child into the world knowing they would be brutalized, lied on, beaten, and killed? I can’t imagine any parent willingly doing that. But GOD loves us so deeply, that’s exactly how He showed His love.

So, friend, I could say so much more about GOD — not because I was told, but because I’ve experienced His love and mercy.

Mercy is forgiveness. It’s a gift — an undeserved kindness freely given out of love.

I want you to know that you don’t have to feel worthy to be worthy.

I want you to know that even if you’ve never known real love, GOD will show you what it feels like.

I want you to know that even if you’ve felt unseen your whole life, GOD sees you.

And I want you to know that whatever terrible thing happened to you — it doesn’t mean GOD stopped loving you. He can take even that pain and use it to bring you victory and joy.

It’s not over. You are still valuable.

Friend, I’ve been in dark, low places. I’ve done things I’m not proud of — to myself and to others. I’ve had unspeakable things done to me, and I’ve watched unspeakable things happen to people I love. In those dark places, I felt unworthy of anyone’s love — especially God’s. There were times I was angry at Him. So angry that I turned my back on Him. But even then, GOD never turned His back on me.

I say all this to tell you — I’ve been you.

But today, friend, I want you to know that you are not alone.

You have never been alone.

You are my people.

You are GOD’s people.

We love you, and we’re here when you’re ready to receive that love.

You don’t have to respond today. Take your time. Think about what I’ve said. Talk to GOD. Argue with Him if you need to. Ask your questions. Trust me — if you quiet yourself and listen, you’ll get answers.

And when you’re ready, we’ll be here — hearts and arms open.

Waiting to be Your Peeps for Life.