wanted

You are wanted. Yes, you.

You are wanted. Yes, you.

You know that feeling when someone is smiling, waving greeting and welcome, and your face lights up, only to realize they're looking past you? Or better yet, out of self-preservation that they surely couldn't be looking at you, you look behind your shoulder to give yourself a safety net, to make sure there's not someone back there they could be looking at. To not face rejection, you go ahead and reject yourself.

The boys on our recent mission trips in the Dominican Republic pride themselves on learning to be gentlemen and so receiving occasional, sweet compliments from them has been a new experience for me. One day at lunch, one turned from a nearby table and said, "You look pretty." And the funny thing is, I was sure there was a guy behind me he was giving a hard time to or maybe his sister he was actually complimenting. I did the quick over-the-shoulder check, to see only a father who was on the trip and knew it wasn't meant for him. Then turned back with a questioning, "Me?" Undeterred, the young gentleman repeated his simple compliment and went on about his lunch.

We spent a morning soaking in the words of Ephesians chapter one and were undone. In Christ, we have already been blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, loved...and more! As His children, we are wanted.

You are wanted. Yes, you. You don't need to do the over-the-shoulder look. You.

And for my sisters, there is something that I believe is inherently beautifying in being wanted. From the inside out, we come undone and become radiant in the knowledge of being wanted. An invitation being extended to see ourselves in a new light and responding to words of life and truth over us. This is not only something we desire, it is something I believe we need.

And the beauty of being wanted by the One who reigns above all is that His words trump all, they triumph over all. They win.

Sometimes He may use another to awaken us to this reality but let me assure you that there is no other who will ever want you as much as the One who already demonstrated His desire for you completely.

He holds His hand out, asking you to believe Him when He declares He wants you. An invitation awaiting your response. Yes, you.

The Lord has given me the sweetest friendship with the volunteer coordinator at the orphanage for handicapped children where we have served the last twelve summers in the Dominican Republic. She serves from a deep conviction that she is a conduit of God's love for those children.

And yet this year, she wobbled a bit in the knowledge that she can indeed rest in the fact that God loves her. That He wants her. Divorced two years ago, she said she felt alone. That she needed a partner in life. To care for her if she gets sick. To just be there. To be wanted. The sweetest thing was that my mom was able to send down a devotion to remind her of God's words spoken over her each day. And the following day after reading the devotion and words of Scripture, to hear her tender heart speaking the truth that He spoke over her as her eyes teared up because He was so near, her heart undone and coming alive. This is life. She is wanted. She is beautiful.

And my sisters, let me assure you, that if you approach any earthly friendship or relationship needing your heart's ultimate cry to be wanted to be met, you will end up hurt, anxious, sad, frustrated, or worse. Because no human relationship can meet your ultimate need to be wanted.

And the glory is that when we respond to the Heavenly invitation to know that we are wanted, we find we can more richly enjoy earthly relationships.

You are wanted. Yes, you.