“Lord, let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You." ~ Psalm 143:8
He (9) cries all alone in the corner,
his mind lost in absolute fear with a story no one would believe. Yet he prays
every night – for a safe place, for a better life; more like heaven than this
hell. He pleads: "Father, could you please send someone here who will love me for me?”
They could’ve known, but she (13) hides it so well, even
from her parents. Although they can’t see the scars, the burns, and the emotional
wounds, she wonders why they don’t notice the sadness in her eyes or the silent
anguish bleeding her mind. Sometimes all she needs is a kind word or a warm hug
– signs that she’s loved, understood, and accepted for who she really is.
He (26) wasn't born for great things, nor to find his place
in the sun. He tries every day but there seems no path to success. He’s lost an
astounding amount of money in a fraction of the time it took to acquire. There’s
nothing to show for it - other than maybe a sad story to tell. Some days, it
feels like all he knows how to do is lose.
He (58) sits all alone waiting to die. The man in the cell
regrets all he’s done. Inaudible screams purge the depths of his soul. The
walls can’t hold back a prayer, or a spirit.
So, he calls to the heavens
and promises all the good things he’ll do if ever released: “Lord, forgive me,
I wanna go home."
Suddenly, all five people heard a voice somewhere from deep
within that spoke softly, "I know your story and I’ve watched you suffer. I
will love you for you, not for what you’ve done or what you will become. I will
love you for you… and will give you the love that you never knew.”
Every day we have a choice where to look for hope - in
created things or in our Heavenly Creator. The world tells us to hope in money,
luck, determination, relationships, skills, and our own skills. God tells us to look to Him. He will never
fail us. The hope He offers doesn’t rise and fall with changing circumstances.
It is forever, solid and secure.
