Not Without Pain But Without Stain

Wisdom.  It comes from the least expected places sometimes.  Some of us are familiar with the Bible story of a donkey that speaks up for what is true when the existing leadership was unwilling to stand for what is right.

God has a special way of communicating what His children need to hear.  He speaks, and even though it seems that He is silent, especially when we are in a time of greatest need, be assured that He gets his message across.  We can trust Him in that.

Recently my daughter gave me a bookmark that she and her ministry team gave out to inmates in a local women's prison.  I thought the verse on it was so relevant:  Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take."

Pretty appropriate wisdom to be given to a group that has not made good choices in their lives.  This was a call to trust in the One who could make a real difference in them--the only One who could meet their deepest needs.

But even though the verse was great, the phrase that followed on that bookmark hit me even harder.  Listen to what it said:  "God has specially designed you and has fully equipped you to walk through this life with Him by your side.  Not without pain but without stain."

I mean, come on!!  This is incredible!  Can you imagine how someone in prison would feel if they read this?  They are special.  They are fully equipped.  They are not alone.  They are accepted.  Their pain is not shoved under the rug, but is acknowledged, but not elevated to the point of being the thing that defines who they are.  No, the pain is real, but with God in their lives, they are forgiven--without stain."  Can you imagine how a desperate heart would drink that up?

Wonderful.  Amazing.  Breathtaking.

Now, I want to to ask you to do something:  I want you to examine yourself in a mirror (no, not literally, just be thoughtful of yourself).  And as a child of God, I want you to understand something about youself. . . .
God looks at you and is convinced that you are special.  He has fully equipped you to walk through your life.  You are not alone, no matter how lonely you might feel.  You are accepted--fully into relationship with and through Jesus.  Your pain is real and God acknowledges it.  He doesn't minimize it, or sweep it under the rug, which also means that you are fully understood by Him.  But He refuses to define you as a victim, or primarily through your pain because He sees who you really are and what are your greatest needs.  Because of that He has forgiven you through Jesus.  And this forgiveness brings you freedom that is beyond what a soul can imagine.  To Him, the One who loves you more than you know--you are without stain.

Incredible.  Blessed.  Awestruck.

I want to say thanks to my daughter Jenna, who shared this with me, and most of all, I want to say thanks to Jesus for bringing to us, and you, forgiveness and life that makes a real difference.

Not without pain, but without stain.  I can live with that.

BT