Within each of us there is a need to belong, to be loved and valued, to recognize that we are a blessing, to feel connected, to share life experiences together, whether good times or hard ones.
When God created Adam and Eve, He placed within her a literal rib from Adam to show the closeness and connectedness God desires for humanity to experience.
Though we have made mistakes and poor choices, we have the incredible privilege of accepting the gift of salvation, of redemption, of transformation, of adoption back into the heavenly family of God! “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” John 1:12, 1 John 3:1. Incredible love! What value God has placed on every person! We belong to God first because He is our Creator and Sustainer, and again as our Redeemer and Restorer!
We have an adversary though. This enemy is stealthily, insidiously, laboring to alienate us from our spouses, children, church families and neighbors. He has created so many distractions that we don’t “have time” to connect with each other, to experience the joy of true companionship. We don’t talk about what is important to us—because who has time to listen or to share? Instead, our time disappears minute by minute on social media, YouTube or a million other distractions carefully designed to disconnect humanity from God and one another. In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued a report that drew attention to an epidemic that affects one out of two American adults. Half of us are lonely. The devil has done his work well, what are we to do?
“Every member should be a channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of His grace, the unsearchable riches of Christ. There is nothing that the Savior desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and His character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Savior’s love. All heaven is waiting for men and women through whom God can reveal the power of Christianity.” The Acts of the Apostles, p. 600
You belong to God. He needs you and me to reveal to our families, our neighbors, our communities our Savior’s love and their value as sons and daughters of God. There’s a world out there longing to know that they DO belong. They are a sought-after part of a big, loving family—a vital part of the family of God.
Amie Hubbard is family ministries director for the Michigan Conference.
