I just… I don’t think I belong here:
Raymond sat alone on the edge of a hillside, the winds whispering through the tall grass, the sun casting a warm glow over the horizon. Despite the beauty around him, he felt suffocated by the weight of unworthiness that gripped his soul. The memories of his mistakes played like a film reel in his mind—a harsh reminder of every failure, every wrong decision, every hurtful word he wished he could take back. He wondered why God would even care for someone like him.
Raised in a small town where everyone seemed to have their lives figured out, Raymond always felt like the odd one out. At church, he listened to the pastor preach about God’s endless love and grace, yet he couldn’t shake the thought that somehow, he didn’t deserve it. He tried to pray, but his words felt hollow, his heart too heavy with doubt.
One Sunday morning, Raymond reluctantly agreed to join a hiking group from his church. He didn’t feel particularly social, but his mother had encouraged him, saying, “Sometimes you find clarity when you least expect it.” Little did he know that this day would mark the beginning of a transformation.
The group made its way up the rocky trail, laughter filling the air as people shared stories and encouragement. Raymond hung back, his thoughts distant. As they neared the summit, a man named Gabriel noticed Raymond’s solitude and struck up a conversation. Gabriel was older, with silver in his hair and a gentle, wise demeanor.
“You seem deep in thought,” Gabriel said, his tone kind and unassuming.
Raymond hesitated but then sighed. “I just… I don’t think I belong here. Or anywhere, really. I’ve messed up too much. I don’t think God would want someone like me.”
Gabriel paused, his expression thoughtful. “Raymond, let me tell you something. I’ve lived long enough to make more mistakes than I can count. But you know what I’ve learned? God’s love isn’t about what we deserve—it’s about who He is. His grace is a gift, not something we earn. You don’t have to carry the weight of your past alone.”
As Gabriel spoke, something stirred within Raymond—a glimmer of hope, faint but undeniable.
Later that evening, after the group returned home, Raymond found himself sitting by his bedside, the Bible open in his hands. He turned to a verse Gabriel had mentioned: **Romans 8:38–39**—“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Tears welled up in Raymond’s eyes as he read the words over and over. Could it be true? Could God’s love really be that vast, that unshakable? In that quiet moment, Raymond dared to pray—not with perfect words, but with a raw and honest heart. He asked for strength to trust in God’s grace, to let go of the burdens he had carried for so long.
The journey wasn’t easy. Doubts still crept in, and there were days when Raymond struggled to believe. But step by step, he began to see glimpses of God’s work in his life. He found solace in prayer, strength in Scripture, and encouragement in the community of believers around him. Slowly, Raymond started to realize that his worth wasn’t defined by his past mistakes but by the love of the One who had created him.
Years later, as Raymond stood before a congregation to share his testimony, he smiled. The words that once felt hollow now resonated deeply: “I am a child of God, loved and redeemed—not because I am perfect, but because He is.”
