And I pray that you, being rooted in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.~Ephesians 3:17-18 NIV
Much of my life, I lived in what was (seemingly full) of darkness, pain and shame. I didn’t understand why, nor had I learned healthy skills to survive in its harsh elements. I grew to depend on myself, devouring any nourishment that would or could feed me, even if it meant sacrificing myself. I’ve since discovered that being unequipped simply led to the inability to connect in relationships, even though my heart was purposed for it.
The shame, I left home with, were new chapters that identified every milestone and every mistake that I went on to make in my adult life. My road markers continued to remind me of the cycle of pain, not only endured by myself, those around me, also those before me.
I felt abandoned and alone. The silence I had carried from childhood became my bondage buried in a hardened and pain-filled heart. I went into the world unprepared, living in the same brokenness, the same undeveloped skillset. Only now, I was an adult.
Isn’t it interesting that our gift of grace becomes measurable when we get older? The innocence of grace that we had as children becomes defined as we get older.
Early on, my innocence had been taken, God, in his abundant and merciful heart, preserved a piece of mine. His pursuit caused me to desire a way out of this desert place. Though, I had felt abandoned and alone, lost without a voice, His presence of grace was gifted to me. I was an unworthy soul, but he came and walked beside me anyway. He came to deliver and unveil his love and beauty.
Have you ever felt alone? Have you felt as though no one cared, as if you were lost without any hope? Maybe you’ve only felt one of these things? Maybe you have felt them all?
I felt these things. At times, for a quick moment, I still feel some of these. But then I am reminded that amidst my pain, God came and rescued me. He showed me what beauty was by mirroring his reflection back onto me. He has taught me who I am in him, as his beautiful masterpiece. He was always with me, I just had to search and find Him.
God has a plan for me. God has a plan for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
There is hope and a love far greater than the East is from the West. There is no measurement to the amount of love that is given. Nor is there a specific qualification that has to be met in order to accept the invitation.
~Baring His Redemptive Beauty,
Tiffany Thomas
My passion is to reach out to the unreachable, hurting and the hopeless. Please join me in the unleashing of hope that is restored through Christ.
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