A Beloved Family.

Family has always been God’s design for us. All throughout Scripture we see God bringing back together family like in the stories of Jacob and Esau and the prodigal son to show God’s heart is for us to live together, being for each other as deeply as possible. Even though it is God’s original design for us, unfortunately, humanity doesn’t always get it right. We are people; therefore, we are flawed. No matter how good we like to believe we are, we are prone to error. So, family on Earth is messy. We all come from different upbringings that have shaped our foundation and that have given us unhealthy tendencies in one form or another.

God’s design was corrupted at the fall. You see moment after moment after moment throughout history of people turning against each other, brother turning on brother, father turning on son, grandparents turning on grandchildren, etc. Part of God’s redemption arc for humanity is bringing us back together into family. One of the greatest gifts that God could give to us is the fact that community is meant to mirror family.

One thing I am absolutely convinced of is that God’s redesign is ALWAYS better than the original. There is a fascinating verse in the Bible that constantly reminds me of this nature. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But all of us who reflect the Lord’s glory with an unveiled face are being transformed into his own image, from one degree of glory to another. This too is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” The interesting part is we don’t know what better looks like. We actually cannot conceptualize what better looks like, because we have yet to experience it. So, if you come from a rough family life, there is better for you. If you come from a great family, there is still better to be experienced with God. We are constantly moving from one degree of glory to another, what a wonderful gift that God can give us. God, in his infinite kindness, gives us a second chance at family as we grow up and have the ability to choose our family, our people. Even better yet, God gives us another chance at being a part of his family.
 
Family is hard for some and a treasure for others. Your family is the most fundamental building block of the way you operate. Whether we see it or are desperately fighting against it, your family is a large part of who you are and why you do the things you do. You can let that be a good thing, even if your family history isn’t so good. Your family might have done the best they absolutely could or they might have royally messed up, you can still find the goodness of God in it. God is offering the most hope-filled alternative in offering you your place in his eternal family. He is choosing you. Nothing else matters. It is you and God FOREVER. God chooses you in every stage of life, not just the you right now. God has seen the scared little kid you used to. God has seen the angry, angst teenage you used to be. God has seen the cocky, eighteen year old young buck you used to be, thinking you had it all together. God chooses each side of you.

“And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” – Romans 8:15

We’re all moving towards something at any point, desperate to belong somewhere. That truth isn’t a bad thing, it is simply a state of the human condition. As you draw closer to God, you will come to the simply truth that you are enough for God. You have never been an orphan. We may act out of an orphan mindset, but you have always been chosen by God. You, exactly as yourself, mistakes and brokenness as you are is enough. You are 100% entitled to be exactly where you are, whether that is a good or bad place.

You are defined by your family, and it is okay to say that. Your new family is God’s, that includes the people you get to do life with. Your family is your people, let that comfort you over the summer. You are not doing life by yourself for yourself. You are doing life with people for God. There is no such thing as lone ranger Christianity. Let that truth wash over you today. God did not leave you stranded this summer, whether you are back home or in a completely new city. God is right beside you, let God love you in the place you are in right now. He longs to love you in this moment, let him show you his love for your season right now. Let his love look differently this summer, it is a good thing. I promise.

Author | Cristina Rosiles