An answer (part 1)

There’s that verse in 1 Peter about always being prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in you. I’ve heard a lot of sermons and youth group talks and small group discussions on this, and they always left me wondering “does everyone else get asked about their hope a lot?” Because I didn’t. Until recently. These days I’m fielding a lot of questions about why I’m so positive, so content, so unfrazzled, so “happy”…

My answer is simple and yet so deep. The reason for my hope rests in my identity as a child of God. I am who he sees me as: whole, strong, pure, delightful, powerful, capable, and beautiful. I am not weak, needy, broken, damaged, tainted, useless, or draining. I do not have to wait or work for blessing, goodness, and fullness; I can claim it all right now. I have much to offer, and do not have gaps to be filled. I am not a sinful lump covered by a translucent cloak of grace; rather I have been gutted and reborn and I am now a divine expression of life and Spirit. The Spirit who indwells and defines me knows no boundaries. The Father who designed and seduced me never stops whispering promise to my heart. And the Jesus who bought and restored me did it so completely that he enabled me to exist in utter freedom every moment of every day.

More on my answer later, because it’s just too big and great for one post…