I’m especially fond of this verse because I love stories. I love the story that scripture tells of God sending His son to our broken, weary world. The story where Love beats death and builds a bridge for every beating heart from hopelessness to hope, from alone to beloved, and from death to life.

As I read this verse, God reminded me that He is a good Father and a kind and gentle guide. I often forget (especially on the days when I myself am being the stubborn little sheep!) that I can turn from myself and place my hope and trust in Him.

God’s Word never leaves us and never forsakes us. Jesus has already paid for anything and everything the enemy might accuse us of. There’s no debt left to be paid, no finger left to be pointed in our face. We are wrongly accused—not because we didn’t mess up at some point, but because the mess is already cleaned up!

This promise reminds me that we’re all on a journey. We’re all made in the image of the one who created us, and it is our adventure and joy to get to grow more and more into the likeness of Love. For SO long, I thought that following Jesus meant making all the right decisions and trying to be perfect. It was exhausting.

Of all my “fighting words” verses, I’ll never forget how this one ended up in my life. I began memorizing this verse many years ago after someone had broken into our home and stolen our TV and some other things.

Have you noticed how angry people can get at each other these days? Whether it is over religion or politics or something else, my heart aches so deeply when I see the world seemingly on fire. So much division. So many insults thrown back and forth. So much hurt.

My heart has been heavy this week. In the wake of the tragic and racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, my heart just breaks and longs for a day where every wrong is made right, where we all see the beauty and wonder of God in every single person made in the image of the Divine.

This verse has been a deep encouragement to me during this season of life that feels so divided on so many levels. It’s good for me to remember that a day is coming, where everything will be set right, made beautiful again.