Keeping My Heart Hopeful

[Part 6, Chapter 41] 

One year after my catch up with Beth (from chapter 23), I heard the familiar Bing alerting me to a private message. It was Beth. She’d been reading a section from Hebrews 6:4-6, which she misguidedly interpreted as saying God would turn his back on her.

Here is the unedited record of our online chat (Beth was honoured when I asked for her permission to use this here). If you’ve used these chat apps, you’ll be aware there is often a crossover between what they write and what you’ve answered. Holy Spirit can even use that for good!

I was reading the Hebrews verse. Does that mean people can’t really come back to God if they drift away or turn away?

So, from what you know of and have experienced in Julie and me, would we ever turn you away?

No. That could be because you are to love sinners though … even those going to hell!

And we are not exactly God. So, without going into the Hebrews passage in depth right now, our perfect heavenly Father is much more gracious and welcoming and receiving and inclusive then we will ever be.

Okay.

He doesn’t classify people according to their actions. He doesn’t see me as Peter, the sinner. Even though I sin, he sees me as Peter, his beloved, his son, a person in whom he delights. And he sees you exactly the same way. It’s his kindness that leads us back into walking daily in that love.

I sometimes wish I never knew God with all the things people say. It just makes me feel worse about myself than what I already do.

Well thank God that people aren’t God then. It is so cruel how harsh and judgemental people can be, especially when they have never walked in someone else’s steps.

Julie and I are just a couple of consistent people in your life, put there because we love you, and to remind you that the heavenly Father loves you in the most wholesome and perfect way. He sees you as you are now, and he accepts you as you are now. And he delights in what you are now, and he delights in the person you will become in the future.

Yeah. I try not to think about God too much. It makes me cry. I love you guys.

There was a ten-minute gap in the conversation while I was, ahh, otherwise engaged.

Sorry, I was just playing solitaire! We love you too.

That’s okay. It’s a great game.

A week or so later I’m out jogging, and right out of nowhere, Holy Spirit brings Beth to mind. Prompted, I message her:

Hey Beth, I love you. You are precious

I love you.

I hope I am precious.

Thank you for taking the time to send me a message. To be honest, I trust you and that includes what comes out of your mouth because I don’t believe you’d lie to me. Love you Patchy.

I might tell porkies about some things but never about your identity as Father’s daughter!

I hope within the next year I will make my way over for a visit. Seeing you guys keeps my heart hopeful.

Favour, what a gift. It does indeed keep the heart hopeful.