I am not a brilliant theologian or philosopher.

I am just a simple girl who read my Bible stories, looked up at Jesus crucified, and realized He did it out of love for me.

I am just a simple girl who struggles to reckon the world she sees with the God who loves her. Loves her despite her foolishness, selfishness, and blindness.

I am just a simple girl redeemed from the pit again and again. Not only redeemed but tenderly restored.

I am just a simple girl in love with Jesus.

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

John 19:30 NKJV

It is finished! Your last words on the cross, but the first words of our security found in You. Without those words, there would be no salvation, sanctification or justification. We would remain blind to our sin and need for a Saviour. Restless, discontent, with no way home, and no hope of a relationship with our Creator God, our Abba. Without Your death, there would be no new life.

“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; ” says the old hymn. The Solid Rock.

However, even my faith and hope come through His sacrifice and grace.

That little girl in the church pew did not receive salvation because she believed, but because the Holy Spirit opened her eyes to realize her salvation came through what Christ did on that cross.

This explains it all so well. In its simplicity, I knew I was loved, wanted and welcome. I understood He died on the cross for me, to forgive me. I didn’t realize all He had saved me from, but I knew I was His and He was mine, and it was finished, a done deal. On that day, He stamped me with His seal. The fruition of that moment would come years later, with maturity and awareness, but in my simple childish understanding of His sacrifice, I was saved. Oh, that glorious moment! Such grace! I longed to stay there and linger in a cocoon of belonging and love such as I had never experienced until that moment.

But we are not called to stay in the cocoon, but to struggle and wrestle, through reading His Word and obediently following Him, and change in the cocoon, breaking out into a new creation, a new life. The beauty of it is He is with us in the dark cocoon the whole time, through every struggle, wrestling match, and the weariness they bring.

The little girl had a long road ahead of her, with twists and turns, heartaches and confusion she couldn’t possibly foresee, and thankfully so. Even though she was inconsistent, disobedient and rebellious, her God never took his hand off of her, never removed his seal or his promise of love, but was there waiting every time she turned to him.

And then one day she broke out of the cocoon into full realization and faith in the One who loved her beyond imagination.

But she is still a simple girl.

One who has grown in her understanding of theology, God’s Word and his great love.

She struggles with the world around her and is foolish, selfish, and blind sometimes, but she knows she is not alone and who to turn to.

She stands redeemed and restored as a simple girl who loves Jesus.

Sisters, you don’t need degrees to follow Jesus or understand the Bible. The first people called to follow Him were simply fishermen. Jesus said to come to Him as little children, honest, curious, and open. Allow Him to wrap you in His cocoon of love and wrestle out your faith with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I can’t wait to see what beautiful creations you become!

Be well!

Patricia