Life: It's Not Supposed to Be Like ThisSample

Growing up in Oklahoma, I was no stranger to violent storms. I have watched storms on the far-off horizon build until the storm sweeps across towns and cities with force and violence that change the landscape forever. My life was a violent storm. I would watch the dark clouds form across the horizon of my family, my parents drinking until their minds were clouded with darkness and evil. The distant rumblings of thunder would start soft and build until the thunder of hurtful words and actions rattled our house's windows. The lightning of sharp, quick physical abuse would flash and fill the whole house, leaving my siblings and me breathless. Often with a storm, you run to a corner and curl up as small as possible, praying for the storm's violence to stop. Surviving a violent storm is no different than surviving an abusive family life. I have hidden in the smallest corner of my different houses with my siblings, waiting for the violence and abuse of the drunk storms of my parents to end.

Humanity is marred with sin at birth. God wants you to understand He is holy and has nothing to do with sin, but God promised in Genesis 3:15 that the offspring of Eve would one day strike the head of Satan. Jesus fulfilled God’s promise by suffering, dying, and rising from the grave. His perfect sacrifice was the only way to pay the penalty of sin. Finally, humanity could be reconciled with God. Adam and Eve were sent out of the presence of God and out of the Garden.

God immediately had a plan because He loves humanity so much. He sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, to wash away the sins of the world. We do not deserve grace or mercy, but God freely gives it at the cost of “His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

I want you to understand that God loves you, from one sinner to another. He loves you despite all the sins you have ever committed in your life.

You will never be perfect, but you don’t need to fix all your problems and sins before you come to Him because you will never be good enough or perfect enough to do that. He wants you to come as you are, repent from your sins, and put your hope and trust in Jesus Christ.