To Belong

By Laurie Ness


"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."  1 John 3:1-2

On a recent "Girls' Afternoon Out," I saw the new movie, Annie.  Though the music was updated and the plot changed somewhat, the decades-old "Little Orphan Annie" message was still present. That sweet little girl and her friends had a deep desire for a permanent family--

--to belong.

Don't we all want to belong?  Even if we're not without parental love, there's still something more we've all craved.  Some of us have found and chosen it . . . Him . . . while others are still searching or running.

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."  John 1:12

Because life isn't like the movies.  To love means to sacrifice.  And even when we have come to truly belong to the best family ever--God's family--through faith in Jesus, sometimes we don't want to give what it takes to remain connected.

Like in an earthly adoption, just because we stray in some way doesn't mean we lose our place in the family, but fellowship can be broken or strained.

Thankfully, though, once we belong to God's family, we always belong.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. John 10:27-29

Such security that knowledge brings!  I've been reading and hearing a lot about foster care lately as one of the main characters in the new book I'm writing is a "foster kid."  Kids who go from home to home or who are abused in foster homes tend to feel deeply insecure and confused and displaced, for obvious reasons.  And that's how any person can feel before trusting Jesus as her Savior.

But adoption brings permanency, especially when we are adopted into God's family.  No one can take us away!  And God wants it that way!
So, remember, ladies, if you are a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, you belong.

Whether you are poor or rich, homeless or living in a mansion, have a large circle of influence or little . . . you belong.
Even if you are snubbed, ignored, gloated over, made fun of, oppressed . . . you belong.

And nothing can take you from His hand.