From the time we’re little girls, we long to be loved and accepted—from the playground to the lunchroom to the places where we live and work as grown women. We spend our lives doing our best to prove we are lovable and to avoid being left all alone. For many of us, one of our greatest fears is that we will be left to our solitary selves to fight the hardest battles of our lives.
The truth is that it’s impossible to walk through life without experiencing the pain and loneliness of betrayal, shame, guilt, loss, judgment, or rejection. These wounds can shape our views of ourselves, others, and God and even make us question if we are worthy of love and acceptance. Our heartache, whether old or new, can chip away at who we are created to be—women of worth, value, and dignity—convincing us there’s no one who understands or cares. No one to dress our wounds and wipe our tears. Yet Jesus tells us a different story, promising us that we are never alone. It’s a story of beauty, hope, grace, and divine companionship—and it is our destiny. The Redeemer of broken lives and wounded hearts longs to heal our deepest hurts and satisfy us with His unfailing love and presence—regardless of our pasts.
If this seems too good to be true, consider the women in the Gospels who encountered Jesus. To them He was the most revolutionary gentleman, breaking cultural norms as He not only engaged with them but actually lifted them up. Even the most bedraggled, shame-filled women were restored to a place of purpose and influence as He spoke life into their present situations and their futures, offering hope, second chances, and grace-giving love. His plans for them were good—and far superior to any plans of their own.
The same Lord who healed the hearts of harlots, beggars, and outcasts longs to do the same for you and me. He’s patient and kind, strong and brave. We may test His limits, doubt His trustworthiness, or even walk away from Him, but He is always faithful and good to us. No matter what. Though we may mistake our own questions and doubts for His absence, the truth is that we can never escape His presence or His love. We do not possess that kind of power. Without a doubt, life is hard; but our Sovereign Savior is always near. Whether in times of tears or bouts of laughter, He is near. Whether in singing or silence, He is near. And as season after season brings both unforeseen misery and fresh mercy, the Good Lord promises to walk with us, bringing healing and wholeness and abundant life.
Excerpted from the six-week Bible study Never Alone: 6 Encounters with Jesus to Heal Your Deepest Hurts, Tiffany Bluhm, Ó 2018 by Abingdon Press. All rights reserved.