Living in spite of pain

So let me tell you a story. I was about to type up this post when I heard a very loud, screaming noise. It was the fire alarm. And it turned out not to just be a drill. Guess what, I forgot to grab my phone and my computer. Nothing to keep me occupied while we waited to go back inside. Fortunately, the fire was able to be put out quickly. And I guess it's not such a bad idea to be away from electronic devices once in a while, as long as they don't get burned!
Anyway, to the topic at hand. I shared this topic before, with slight variations, in a different setting. I don't know your story, or your background. There is a lot of pain in the world. You may have been abused, you may have been hurt, or you may have caused pain to yourself because you had such pain in your world. You may have even been hurt by a false perception of God. Everyone has a different story. I have experienced pain, but it can't even compare to the pain that many others in the world have experienced. It hurts me to think of all the pain that friends and loved ones have experienced. Even more so all those in the world I don't know. It must hurt God even more, and I believe it does.
I just want to share with you how much God loves you. No matter what you've done, He still loves you. Whether you have been abused, or someone has caused you pain. Or even if you are the one who went wrong, hurting someone else, and causing yourself pain in the process. For all of you, I just want you to know that God still loves you. No matter what you've done, or what has been done to you, He loves you anyway.
Romans 5:7,8 reads, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." John 3:16 is also one of my favorite verses. If you know it, you can close your eyes and say it. If not, here it is: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." God loves us anyway, no matter what. To close, I would like to share one of my new favorite songs, written by Josie Minikus and sung by her and her husband Matt:

"To My gentle searching eyes there have been no disguises 

Nothing that you have done that you can hide 

I've seen you in your darkness, sin and know the pain and guilt within,

But the question on your mind am I worth saving anyway 

I see you child for who you are 

Know that sin has left its ugly scars 

But I know who you were meant to be 

And My love will set you free 

So come weary child rest beside Me for awhile 

I know your care the burdens that you bear

Abide in My love hide in My love 

Don't push Me away ashamed and afraid 

I know who you are 

And I love you anyway My child 

So bring Me all your wants and needs 

I promise they can't burden Me 

Most desperate one cannot exceed My care for you 

And bring Me all your doubts and fears 

The hurt you haven't faced in years 

The wounded heart you stuffed inside 

The tears you've tried so hard to hide 

So come weary child rest beside Me for awhile 

I know your care the burdens that you bear 

Abide in My love hide in My love 

Don't push Me away ashamed and afraid 

I know who you are 

And I love you anyway My child 

So come to Me just the way you are 

Though you've fallen hard and wandered far 

Stop trying to be so brave so strong 

It's okay to cry child tears aren't wrong 

So come weary child rest beside Me for awhile 

I know your care the burdens that you bear

Abide in My love hide in My love 

Don't push Me away ashamed and afraid 

I know who you are 

And I love you anyway My child 

Yes I love you always My child"

And here is the link to the song:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVluMzsBpLs 

Have a good rest of your day

~~~Sara