Jesus is the One Who Confirms Us in the Wilderness

I came to believe Jesus loved me when I was, at the same time convinced, I was the least behaved.  Not knowing for much of my life that I had any role to play  in controlling what I thought, my mind became a buck wild place.

Under well ironed dresses and finely polished shoes, was a woman in need of a rescuer. I tried self-help. The ultimate kind, where you don't invite any other voices, you just listen to your own. And in my shoddy wisdom, I resolved to balance all the bad of the wild place with all the good I could muster. It was exhausting. The more I tried, is the more I became ensnared. Where did I begin? Where did I end? My mind became wilder and wilder. I wished I could discard it like old clothes. But, it was here, in the wilderness that I heard His sweet whispers; I love you! You are mine. (Isaiah 43). Do not be afraid. I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8). Though you are in the flood and the fire has caught you, you will not be destroyed. (Isaiah 43). I will help you. (Isaiah 41).

In my wildest state-the one that made me feel filthy no matter how well laundered my clothes-Jesus met me. He didn't scold me. He didn't condemn me. Instead, He  lovingly confirmed me as His own. He comforted me with His presence. He beckoned me to rest in His embrace. And the timing was perfect. I had no deeds good enough to justify His nearness. I knew I'd missed the mark. And yet, here was His embrace. I came to know a love more resilient than I could have ever known in any approximation of my own perfection. I came to know a love that could not break. I came to know Jesus as the lover who confirms us in the wilderness.

​The book of Hosea captures the life of a prophet, who suffered in love so that God could paint a picture of just how much He loves us. And still, as vivid as the picture is, it pales in comparison to the cross. Yet, reading Hosea is such a worthwhile endeavor. As you come to meet this holy man and his adulterous wife, who pursues at great cost, you come to see a picture, not only of Israel (God's people gathered into a nation), but of ourselves-wandering souls in need of a loving savior.  Read this book of the Bible. We pray that Jesus meets you and reminds you how He declared you were His in the wilderness.

1. How has your life changed in light of this kind of love?
2. Share your testimony with others. You can get a start by sharing your stories with us. We'd love to hear of your personal love story with Jesus.
3. How does being a free recipient of this kind of love transform your understanding of how you show up in your relationships?

Enjoy this testimony in poetry by Hosanna Poetry, as she speaks of how God pursued her. If you enjoy, you can sooner enjoy the body of work of which it is a part, by purchasing the album "Maps, Boots, & Other Ways We Get There".

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Go Deeper

As Be-Held Women we believe that true self-care is accomplished in a lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus Christ. We take care by drawing near to God: seeking and living the truth of God’s Word, by the power of His Spirit dwelling within us, confident that in living the truth by Holy Spirit reliance we will be transformed into women who so clearly bear the image of Jesus Christ in spirit, soul and body that we will come to bless many.  Dear Be-Held Woman, seeking, living and being transformed by the truth, we offer you this Bible study guide to support you in your endeavors! Apply it to this week's Scripture reading.

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