We all Want to be Somebody

We all also want to be forgiven.

I am a huge advocate for second chances. Deep down in my soul I truly believe people can change. I even think people desire change more than they’ll admit.

No one is perfect but, we like to think we are. We like to think we don’t need to change.

Change is not a bad thing. In fact, I’m sure if countless people look back on big changes that were made in their lives they would all agree they learned something from it, whether the change was invited or not.

My husband is the perfect example and the very reason I am passionate about giving people another chance.

Reluctantly for me, we started dating in 2005. I had just gotten out of a relationship and I did NOT want to be in another one. Dave was pretty persistent and eventually I gave him a chance. (Too many of you know our story so, I’ll spare you as many details as I can).

In 2005, he was entertaining, funny, kind, and lots of other qualities I liked. It didn’t take long before I started to dislike certain things and lost trust I had for him.

In January of 2006 he got arrested for the 6th and final time. Now, up until that point I had all my own brokenness I was dealing with, but no one knew. I’m not sure even the closest of my friends could tell that I was in such a dark place. I hid my pain WELL. So because of where I was “inside”, up to 2005-6 I refused to say Gods name out loud. I was still mad at Him. I blamed Him for what happened to me as a child. I went from “how could you [God] do that to me?” to “how could you [God] who’s supposed to protect me, allow someone to hurt me that way?” I eventually got my answers but, that’s another story.

But when I found out Dave got arrested, it came out for the first time since I was a young. Somehow, I knew it was Him. I don’t remember who I was talking to on the phone but, I actually said “God stopped him in his tracks.” I don’t know how I knew, I just knew. (I know now, haha)

At the time he had gotten arrested, I knew nothing of his past. I didn’t know how bad he actually was but, I grew a hatred for him by the time January 6th came. I was satisfied with him being arrested. In my heart, he needed it and I smiled.

Not long after, Dave’s parents invited me over a few times and I didn’t want to go. I didn’t know them at all, I had only met them maybe once or twice before that and it was brief. I didn’t know they were Christians, I didn’t know they were praying for me and I didn’t know their good friends were on the other side of the wall interceding (praying) while I had stopped to drop off Dave’s things he had left at my apartment. I think I spent hours there each time.

Can you see my Dad (God) in this? I hope so. His plan was so big and I had the thickest blinders on and I believe it was because He is such a gentle King.

I knew I didn’t want to date someone who was in jail. I didn’t know about his past but, his parents weren’t shy in filling me in. I got to know them as people in the few visits I made.

You see, God drew me there even though I didn’t want to be there.

I broke it off with Dave immediately. I went to see him the day after he got arrested just so that he could see how disappointed I was and to let him know in my own way, that he would never see me again. I was genuine about that. There was something I vowed not to do at 19 and that was to never return to an old relationship. There was a reason it ended and I was content with it.

He wrote letters, I refused to respond except maybe once. By the end of his 180 days, I had miraculously grown to be at peace with what he had done and the way he treated me and even though I didn’t want to be with him ever again, I decided to go visit. I didn’t believe anything he had to say and in fact, told him that everything he had ever said to me was a lie and I didn’t know who he was. Dating him again was not an option or anything I had considered. I went for my own closure.

When I sat down with him, I can only tell you now because I know what it is and I’m familiar with the way it feels and way it looks but, Christ was shining as bright as the Northern star in my face. I didn’t need anyone to tell me he was completely changed and I didn’t know a SINGLE thing about Christianity, but I knew it was God.

The rest of the story is not nearly as important as this: HE is so mighty and so loving and so merciful that He took a guy as rotten as Dave and made him NEW. I got to see that transformation first hand and it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen God do!

He brought restoration, He brought healing!

The changes He made were miraculous and you didn’t have to know God or know a speck about Christianity to SEE Christ in Dave!

Some Christians hear about his history and it’s ALL they see. Thinking he’s not fit to lead and I say, shame on them. How could any believer dismiss the WORK OF THE LORD if unsaved, clueless, worldly people like me saw what God had done!?! It fires me up!

The power of God is MIGHTY. He is miraculous and He is so merciful. He took old rags and made them new and now this man serves Him so faithfully and selflessly.

The change I witnessed has changed my life. I saw God in a way I had never known possible. I got to be a part of the LOVE he poured out over someone so unworthy.

If He did it for Dave, how much would He do for me and you?

Don’t ever dismiss Gods handiwork. Don’t look at your family members, your friends, your coworkers or anyone and think, “they’re lost and they’ll never change” because all that does is give you a reason to give up on them.

Everyone should have an opportunity, especially from a bible believing Christian, to be offered another chance. Offer your ear. Offer 10 minutes of your time, offer prayer. Don’t be so self righteous that you miss some of the greatest works God is doing in peoples lives.

Dave was offered the same forgiveness you were. The kind of sin or amount doesn’t mean a single thing to God. He was forgiven, washed clean, restored and made into the likeness of Christ. He is one of the best people I have ever known. I’m not just saying that because he’s mine. I’m saying that because I saw what God did with Him and it is nothing short of beautiful.

He’s not perfect and he will never claim to be. But, he will love you just like God does because he knows what God did for him.

Give someone another chance. I don’t care if it’s the 13th time. What if God gave up on you because He got tired of waiting?

It’s never too much for Him so, we should follow His lead.

Peter asked the Lord, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

That means, DON’T COUNT.

Everyone’s life is worth something. Everyone wants to be someone worthy of being loved. Everyone deserves another chance.

His love is the greatest gift we have been given. Share it.

Jennie B