Last night on The Chosen Livestream for Season 3 on YouTube, we saw a remarkable documentary. 10 young men and women from different parts of the country were brought together to stream a show. They didn’t know what show. They were asked to watch and honestly share their thoughts, hold nothing back. Their own personal stories were also bravely shared and I thank them for that.

What struck me was the woundedness we all share to varying degrees. Hearts have been wounded and people hurt yet they go on. That takes such courage.

Watching the documentary last night my heart was already hurting for the hurt people live and I felt overwhelmed thinking about how many people hurt; and reading Genesis 4 brings us right to the first heart that took a life. I took that to God. What do I make of all of this? How can I help anyone in this blog if I am hurting from the pain I see in others; from wrong attitudes I harbor in my heart that hurts me?

He answered. As you long to be loved – love others. As you long to be forgiven – forgive others. As you long for peace – be peaceful. I know the wounds in every heart. I will heal them. I am the One who casts out fear – I am the only one who can.

He brought me back to Him. I realized that what I need most in this broken, hurting world is to understand God’s love. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18. People are hurting from the punishing hurts of others and from the punishing hurt we ourselves dish out. No one is immune.

The only perfect love is God. I can’t love perfectly – none of us can. Satan wants us to believe his lie that we are not lovable….he punishes us with that lie. God tells us He loves us. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17. Jesus didn’t condemn us…He died for us.

We are loved by family who are imperfect and who create deep wounds within us. We each of us are like children who are hurting and afraid of the darkness of not being loved.

The part that so impacted so many of them in the documentary was the episode where Mary Magdalene was a child and afraid. Her father kept reminding her to repeat the words when she’s afraid: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1. Jesus said those very words to her as she was trying to run away from Him. He healed her with His perfect love for her when others condemned, abused, rejected her. She was a grown woman but still her child’s heart responded to the love she knew deep within could only come from God.

Do we look down on others? Do we condemn because of their “life-style” choices? God doesn’t. He loves us and heals the wounds of our hearts and every other heart. He loves. He delights in us. Let His love permeate your very soul and bring you inner joy and peace of mind and heart that knows you are His, He has redeemed you. You.